Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Returns After Masimo IP Dispute

TL;DR:
• Apple announces redesigned blood oxygen feature for Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and Ultra 2
• Feature returns after 18-month hiatus due to Masimo IP dispute that cost Apple millions
• U.S. Customs ruling enables Apple to sidestep 2023 ITC ban
• Available now via iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 updates

Apple just brought blood oxygen monitoring back to the Apple Watch, ending a bitter 18-month standoff with medical device maker Masimo that forced the tech giant to pull one of its flagship health features. The redesigned sensor launches today for Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users following a favorable U.S. Customs ruling that Apple says cleared the way for the return.

Apple is declaring victory in one of the most expensive intellectual property battles in wearable tech history. The company's Thursday announcement that blood oxygen monitoring is returning to Apple Watch represents the end of an 18-month saga that saw Apple pull watches from stores during peak holiday sales and ship millions of devices with disabled health features.

The breakthrough came via a recent U.S. Customs ruling that Apple says validates its redesigned approach to pulse oximetry. While Apple hasn't disclosed technical details of the workaround, the company's ability to restore functionality suggests significant behind-the-scenes engineering to circumvent Masimo's patents without licensing the medical device maker's intellectual property.

"Apple's teams work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features," the company said in today's announcement. The carefully worded statement notably avoids any mention of Masimo or the dispute that triggered this entire redesign effort.

The 2023 International Trade Commission ruling found that Apple's original blood oxygen sensors infringed on Masimo's light-based pulse oximetry patents. The decision forced Apple to pause Watch sales during the crucial December shopping period and later ship modified versions without the health feature.

Industry analysts estimate the dispute cost Apple hundreds of millions in lost sales and engineering resources. The company's decision to redesign rather than license Masimo's technology signals Apple's commitment to owning its health tech stack entirely, even at significant short-term cost.

Masimo, which has positioned itself as David fighting Goliath throughout this dispute, hasn't responded to requests for comment on Apple's announcement. The medical device company's stock has been volatile throughout the legal battle, with investors unsure whether Masimo would secure ongoing licensing revenue or face Apple's engineering team designing around its patents.

The timing of today's restoration coincides with Apple's broader push into healthcare services. The company recently launched sleep apnea detection for Apple Watch and hearing health features for AirPods, positioning health monitoring as a key differentiator in the competitive wearables market.

Users can access the restored blood oxygen feature by updating to iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, with results appearing in the Health app's Respiratory section. The feature returns to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models that previously had the capability disabled.

What happens next could reshape how tech giants approach medical device partnerships. Apple's successful workaround demonstrates the power of engineering resources when IP licensing negotiations fail, potentially influencing how other healthcare technology companies approach patent disputes with Big Tech.

Apple's blood oxygen victory represents more than a restored health feature—it's a blueprint for how technology giants can engineer around patent disputes rather than pay licensing fees. As Apple continues expanding its healthcare ambitions with sleep apnea detection and hearing aids, this Masimo resolution signals the company's willingness to invest heavily in IP independence. The real test comes in whether Apple's redesigned sensors match the accuracy that made blood oxygen monitoring a standout feature in the first place.