Apple has reintroduced the ability for their watches to monitor blood oxygen data in the U.S., a feature omitted from certain models due to a legal row with medical devices company Masimo.
Apple announced a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature would be available for customers who bought devices without the original version through software updates for the wearable and iPhone from 14 August onwards.
While the original software displayed data on the watch itself, the new iteration involves using an iPhone app instead.
The company stopped selling its Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US with the original feature enabled in early 2024 as a lengthy dispute over related patents rumbled on.
Versions of its Series 10 device, which was released in 2024, sold in the US had the same restriction.
Apple stated the updates mean “sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app”.
The company explained the move was “enabled by a recent US Customs ruling”.
Apple stated there is no impact for devices bought outside of the US or those with access to the original feature.
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Apple
