Apple is launching a ‘redesigned Blood Oxygen feature’ on the Apple Watch in the US today

Apple has announced that it will release a software update for the iPhone and Apple Watch later today with a “redesigned Blood Oxygen feature” for Apple Watch users in the United States. This comes more than 18 months after Apple began selling the Apple Watch without the Blood Oxygen feature in America due to a patent dispute.

The new feature will be available as part of iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 updates.

In a statement to 9 on 5 Mac today, an Apple spokesperson said:

“Apple will introduce the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature to some Apple Watch users in the US through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update available later today. With this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and the results can be viewed in the Health app. This update will be available to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch users in the US who use the original Apple feature Blood.”

As a refresher, Apple has been involved in a legal battle with health technology company Masimo for years over patents related to the Apple Watch’s Blood Oxygen feature. The situation escalated in December 2023 when the import ban came into effect, prohibiting Apple from selling Apple Watch models with the Blood Oxygen feature in the US.

Apple suspended sales of the Apple Watch in the US for several days due to the import ban. On January 18, 2024, Apple began selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the Blood Oxygen feature.

That has been the status quo ever since. Apple launched the new Apple Watch Series 10 last September, and it also lacked the Blood Oxygen feature in America. Meanwhile, Masimo and Apple continued to settle things in court.

iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 are coming today

Apple says it will release iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 later today to introduce a “redesigned Blood Oxygen feature” to Apple Watch users in the United States. The company says the update will be available to Apple Watch Series 10, Series 9, and Ultra 2 users in the US who don’t have the original Blood Oxygen feature.

After upgrading to iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, your Apple Watch will also download over-the-air content for the new Blood Oxygen feature. This can take up to 24 hours. To help start the download, you can open the ECG app on the Apple Watch or the Health app on the iPhone.

The update only applies to those Apple Watch models purchased in the United States with part numbers ending in LW/A. You can find the part number by going to the Settings app on your Apple Watch, clicking General, and then tapping About. It’s in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone under General and About.

How will the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature work on the Apple Watch Series 10, Series 9, and Ultra 2?

You can start a session in the Blood Oxygen app on the Apple Watch, and the sensors on your Apple Watch will then collect the necessary data. Your iPhone then uses that data to calculate your blood oxygen levels. The results are visible in the Breathing section of the Health app on your iPhone. You won’t be able to view the results on the Apple Watch itself.

A redesigned version of the feature will also support background blood oxygen measurement. This means that your Apple Watch can collect data on the background and transmit it to the iPhone for calculation.

Finally, Apple says “there is no impact on previously purchased Apple Watch units that include the original Blood Oxygen feature, or on Apple Watch units purchased outside the US”

Apple has yet to share when the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature will be available in the watchOS 26 and iOS 26 betas.

Apple explains that this move comes after US Customs ruled that Apple can import Apple Watch models with this new software design for the Blood Oxygen feature. The company is also continuing its appeal of the ITC’s original decision and believes it should be overturned by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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