Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Feature Returns with New Update

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Apple Watch users in the U.S. will soon have access to a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature following a recent U.S. Customs ruling. This update comes after a legal dispute involving Masimo Corp. and Apple, which led to the feature's temporary removal from certain models.

The update will be available through a software update that requires users to update their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. The Blood Oxygen feature will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, with results viewable in the Respiratory section of the Health app.

Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users who do not already have the Blood Oxygen feature will benefit from this update. The company has confirmed that there will be no impact on previously purchased units with the original Blood Oxygen feature, nor on units purchased outside of the U.S.

The return of the Blood Oxygen feature is part of Apple's ongoing efforts to provide users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features. The feature joins a suite of other health tools available on Apple Watch, including irregular rhythm notifications, the ECG app, Sleep Apnea Notifications, Fall Detection, sleep tracking, wrist temperature sensing, the Vitals app, the Noise app, the Medications app, and the Mindfulness app.

This update follows a recent U.S. Customs ruling that lifted the ban on the sale of Apple smartwatches with the Blood Oxygen feature. The International Trade Commission had previously ruled in favor of Masimo Corp., which alleged that Apple had infringed on its patented technology.

Apple's commitment to privacy and science-based features remains a key focus, ensuring that users can rely on these tools for their health and wellness needs.

References:
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/08/an-update-on-blood-oxygen-for-apple-watch-in-the-us/
[2] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/apple-watch-blood-oxygen-feature-174836338.html