Apple has begun rolling out an updated blood oxygen measurement tool for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users. The feature was redesigned due to a years-long patent dispute with Masimo, which accused Apple of infringing on its technology, CNBC reports.
In 2023, the US International Trade Commission ruled that the Apple Watch sensors infringed Masimo's intellectual property. This led to the temporary suspension of sales of some smartwatch models and the release of versions without SpO₂ measurement in the US.
The update was made possible after a U.S. Customs ruling allowed Apple to reinstate the feature in a modified form. Users will be able to activate it after installing iOS 18.6.1 on iPhone and watchOS 11.6.1 on Apple Watch. Measurement data will be stored in the Breathing section of the Health app.
Apple has been actively expanding the capabilities of its devices in the medical field in recent years. Recent innovations include sleep apnea detection in the Apple Watch and hearing enhancement features in AirPods.