Apple reintroduces blood oxygen level measurement to its latest Apple Watch models, yet there's a caveat associated with the feature.
Apple Watch users in the United States will once again have access to the blood oxygen monitoring feature, following a software update set to roll out in mid-August 2025. The update will be available for the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2, as announced by Apple.
The blood oxygen monitoring feature was initially introduced with the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020. However, in 2023, the US International Trade Commission ruled against Apple, leading to the disabling of the feature on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US to avoid a ban. The ruling was a result of a patent dispute with Masimo, a medical tech company.
The reintroduction of the feature follows a US Customs ruling that lifted the import ban. The update affects only Apple Watches sold in the US after the import ban date, which was January 17, 2024. Older models or those sold outside the US with the original blood oxygen feature are unaffected.
The redesign of the blood oxygen monitoring feature moves some of the processing from the watch to the iPhone to comply with the legal constraints. To enable the redesigned feature, US users must update their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. After updating, the blood oxygen data will be collected by the Apple Watch sensors but measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, with results viewable in the Respiratory section of the Health app.
It's important to note that the Apple Watch continues to offer many other health and safety features alongside blood oxygen monitoring. For up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews about the Apple Watch and other tech products, consider following Tom's Guide on Google News.
For those interested in the latest rumors about the Apple Watch 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, Tom's Guide has articles available. The news precedes the rumored release of these watches next month, both of which are likely to also have a blood oxygen sensor. To learn more about the anticipated upgrades for the next Apple Watch, check out Tom's Guide's articles on the topic.
[1] Apple's full statement on the return of blood oxygen monitoring on the Apple Watch [2] Tom's Guide articles on the biggest rumors about the Apple Watch 11 [3] Tom's Guide articles on the leaks and rumors about the Apple Watch Ultra 3 [4] Tom's Guide invites readers to sign up for news, reviews, deals, and tips directly to their inbox
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