Apple’s highly anticipated Apple Watch Series 10 has made headlines for its refined design and the introduction of a sleep apnea detection system. However, as the release date approaches, a significant feature will be conspicuously absent: blood oxygen tracking.
The absence of this feature, also known as SpO2 level analysis, is notable given its presence in Apple smartwatches for nearly five years. The removal stems from an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo, a medical technology company that claims Apple has infringed on its patents related to blood oxygen monitoring.
Earlier this year, Apple was mandated to halt the sale of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. due to this dispute. Although these models are still available for purchase, they are sold without the blood oxygen tracking capability. The same restriction now applies to the Apple Watch Series 10.
In the U.S., consumers will find that Apple Watch Series 10 units are devoid of the Blood Oxygen app. According to the official Apple Store page, “The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States beginning January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A.”
The dispute with Masimo dates back several years. Reports indicate that Masimo was in negotiations with Apple prior to the launch of the first Apple Watch but the two companies could not reach an agreement. The technology in question was eventually incorporated into the Apple Watch Series 6.
A ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) found that Apple’s blood oxygen sensors infringed on Masimo’s patents, resulting in a temporary sales ban on Apple Watches in the U.S. last year. Apple has since attempted to overturn this decision, contesting the infringement claims.
As of now, it remains uncertain if or when the blood oxygen measurement feature will become available for the Apple Watch Series 10 in the U.S. Resolution of this issue will likely depend on the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings, potentially requiring a favorable court decision for Apple.
