Apple has reintroduced a redesigned blood oxygen feature for certain Apple Watch models, circumventing an import ban imposed by the International Trade Commission (ITC). The move is a strategic response to the ongoing legal dispute with medical device manufacturer Masimo.
The updated functionality measures and calculates blood oxygen data on the user’s paired iPhone, with results viewable in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This means users can no longer directly view the data on their Apple Watch; instead, they must access it through their iPhone. The redesign is enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling, which permits Apple to import Apple Watch units equipped with the modified blood oxygen feature.
The change specifically applies to Apple Watches sold after the ITC import ban became effective in early 2024. Existing models with the original feature or units purchased outside the U.S. remain unaffected. Users with applicable models, including select Watch Series 8, Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra models, can access the redesigned feature via an iPhone and Apple Watch software update released on Thursday.
This development is a result of an ongoing legal dispute between Apple and Masimo, which accused Apple of intellectual property theft concerning its pulse oximetry technology. In 2023, Masimo secured an ITC ruling that blocked imports of Apple Watches featuring blood oxygen monitoring, after the commission determined Apple’s technology infringed upon Masimo’s patents. Consequently, Apple was compelled to remove the feature.
In response, Apple has counter-sued Masimo, alleging that the company copied Apple Watch features for its own smartwatches, and has also filed an appeal against the ITC ban. The legal dispute between the two companies continues, with Apple seeking to resolve the issue while maintaining the functionality of its Apple Watch devices.
