Technology

Apple Watch's Blood Oxygen Feature Reimagined: What You Need to Know!

2025-08-16

Author: Amelia

A Game-Changer for Health Tracking

Apple has made waves with an exciting announcement: a revamped blood oxygen sensing feature is making its way to select models of the Apple Watch! After being sidelined for several years due to a patent dispute, this update promises to elevate the health-tracking capabilities of the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2.

The Power of Updates

In a recent blog post, Apple revealed that these enhancements would be available through software updates. This breakthrough was made possible by a recent ruling by US Customs, lifting previous restrictions.

The Patented Drama Unfolds

The journey to this feature's comeback has not been smooth. Back in January, Apple was forced to halt sales of its latest watch models due to a fierce patent battle with health tech company Masimo. The latter charged that Apple had infringed on their patented technology for blood-oxygen detection, prompting the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to intervene.

A Tense Showdown

Based in Southern California, Masimo claimed that they pioneered this technology and accused Apple of poaching key talent to gain insider knowledge. While Apple pulled the controversial technology from its smartwatches to resume sales, they firmly believe that the ITC's ruling was misguided and have since appealed the decision in federal court.

Health Features That Impress

Apple's smartwatches are already celebrated for their array of fitness and health features, including irregular heartbeat detection, fall tracking, sleep apnea alerts, and monitoring harmful noise levels. With the return of the blood oxygen sensing feature, Apple continues to position its watches as essential tools for health-conscious users.

Looking Ahead

As technology evolves, the stakes in the smartwatch market grow higher. Will this new rollout change the way we monitor our health? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—Apple is committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in wearable health technology!