Apple is bringing back a feature at the center of a big Apple Watch legal battle

Apple is set to reintroduce blood oxygen monitoring on its latest smartwatch models after a legal dispute forced the company to halt the feature for US consumers. This functionality, designed to enhance users' understanding of their respiratory health, will be available for the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 in the United States through an upcoming software update. This development comes after a protracted legal battle that saw Apple temporarily withdraw its popular smartwatches from US stores during the crucial holiday season nearly two years ago. In 2023, the International Trade Commission ruled that Apple infringed on a patent held by digital health company Masimo concerning pulse oximeter technology, a claim Apple strongly contested. The ruling specifically affected new Apple Watches sold in the US, leaving those who already owned devices with the feature unaffected. Despite the legal hurdles, blood oxygen monitoring remains significant for Apple, especially as the Americas represent its largest market. The company has marketed the Apple Watch as a potentially life-saving device and is reportedly investigating further health technologies, including noninvasive glucose monitoring, according to Bloomberg. Pulse oximeters work by shining light through the skin to measure blood oxygen saturation levels, similar to devices used in medical environments. Apple first introduced this feature in the Apple Watch Series 6 during the early days of the pandemic in 2020. While blood oxygen monitoring may not be a primary selling point for consumers, it is crucial for Apple to maintain a competitive edge as rivals like Samsung and Google ramp up their own digital health initiatives. The impending update will deliver a revamped blood oxygen monitoring feature to US users currently lacking access. Apple Watch owners will need to update to watchOS 11.6.1 and connect their devices with an iPhone running iOS 18.6.1 to access the new functionality.