The Blood Oxygen feature is making a comeback on the Apple Watch, but there’s a catch you should be aware of.

Apple made a splash on Thursday by unveiling a revamped Oxygen tracking feature for users of the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States. This announcement comes on the heels of an International Trade Commission ruling from early 2024 that had previously barred the import of Apple Watches equipped with this feature. However, Apple has found a clever workaround to sidestep that restriction. The tech giant based in Cupertino will now calculate and measure blood oxygen data through the iPhone paired with the Apple Watch, meaning users won’t be able to see this information directly on their wrist. Instead, they’ll need to head over to the Respiratory section in the Health app on their iPhones to check their blood oxygen levels. In their announcement, Apple noted that a recent ruling from US customs has cleared the way for importing Apple Watches with the new Blood Oxygen feature. To access this redesigned feature, users of the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 will need to update their devices to iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, respectively. It’s important to note that this new Blood Oxygen feature will only be available on Apple Watches sold in the US after January 17, 2024, when the ITC ban took full effect. Any Apple Watches sold prior to that date in the US, or those purchased elsewhere, will still have the original Blood Oxygen feature. Apple has been embroiled in a legal battle with Masimo, a medical device company known for its pulse oximeters. Masimo, based in Irvine, California, has accused Apple of encouraging its employees to misappropriate pulse oximetry technology following discussions about a potential partnership. In 2021, Masimo filed a case with the ITC, which resulted in an import ban in December 2023. Meanwhile, Apple has countersued Masimo, claiming that its smartwatches are essentially clones of the Apple Watch. The tech giant is also appealing the ITC ruling. The timing of the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature is particularly interesting, as Apple is gearing up to announce new Apple Watches at the iPhone launch event next month, and it seems they’re banking on this feature to boost Apple Watch sales.

TECHNOLOGY