Apple Returns Blood Oxygen Monitoring to the Latest Apple Watches (techcrunch.com)
(Thursday August 14, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD)
from the back-at-it-again dept.)
- Reference: 0178676964
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/08/14/2018223/apple-returns-blood-oxygen-monitoring-to-the-latest-apple-watches
- Source link: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/14/apples-blood-oxygen-monitoring-returns-to-its-latest-apple-watches/
Apple has [1]reintroduced blood oxygen monitoring to certain Apple Watch models in the U.S. by [2]shifting the feature's calculations to the paired iPhone , sidestepping an [3]ITC import ban stemming from its legal dispute with medical device maker Masimo. TechCrunch reports:
> Blood oxygen data will be measured and calculated on the user's paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This means users won't be able to view the data on their Apple Watch, as they'll need to do so on their iPhone. Apple says the update announced today is enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling, which means that the tech giant is allowed to import Apple Watches with the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature.
>
> The change doesn't affect previously sold models with the original version of the feature or units bought outside the U.S. The redesigned feature only applies to Apple Watches that were sold after the ITC import ban took effect in early 2024. These users can access the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update coming on Thursday.
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/08/an-update-on-blood-oxygen-for-apple-watch-in-the-us/
[2] https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/14/apples-blood-oxygen-monitoring-returns-to-its-latest-apple-watches/
[3] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/23/12/26/134241/apple-watch-import-ban-takes-effect-after-biden-administration-passes-on-veto
> Blood oxygen data will be measured and calculated on the user's paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This means users won't be able to view the data on their Apple Watch, as they'll need to do so on their iPhone. Apple says the update announced today is enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling, which means that the tech giant is allowed to import Apple Watches with the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature.
>
> The change doesn't affect previously sold models with the original version of the feature or units bought outside the U.S. The redesigned feature only applies to Apple Watches that were sold after the ITC import ban took effect in early 2024. These users can access the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update coming on Thursday.
[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/08/an-update-on-blood-oxygen-for-apple-watch-in-the-us/
[2] https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/14/apples-blood-oxygen-monitoring-returns-to-its-latest-apple-watches/
[3] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/23/12/26/134241/apple-watch-import-ban-takes-effect-after-biden-administration-passes-on-veto
Is this a good patent? (Score:3)
by jonwil ( 467024 )
Is the patent involved here a good patent? (i.e. a legit invention that deserves patent protection)
Or is this one of those vague/broad patents that pop up so often in the tech world?
Re: (Score:2)
by thegarbz ( 1787294 )
Look it up on previous slashdot stories. We've covered this extensively. Yes it was a good patent, must have been given that an army of the world's best paid lawyers weren't able to convince a court otherwise.
great feature (Score:2)
Apple, you have the resources. Work out the licensing deal and keep the display on the watch.
Re: (Score:1)
> Apple, you have the resources. Work out the licensing deal and keep the display on the watch.
If Masimo and Apple cannot make a deal, Apple could choose to just purchase Masimo in an all cash transaction.....
Re: great feature (Score:2)
It's a little weird Apple chose a worse redesign instead of just steamrolling the problem with money like they always do.
Re: (Score:2)
> Apple, you have the resources. Work out the licensing deal and keep the display on the watch.
Yes, it's quite amazing that Apple can charge a premium for its devices, some amount of fees from ApplePay use, 15-30% of in-app purchase sales, and developer fees on top of all that, but somehow still doesn't seem to have the means to pay for licensing of some other company's IP they use in their products.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah not sure why Apple can't reach an agreement with Masimo unless Masimo wants some unreasonable fees. Searching on the web shows a fee schedule of 10% but it seems to indicate the fee would only be on the value increase of adding the SpO2 sensor so one would thing that it negligible compared to the sale price.
Re: (Score:2)
>> Apple, you have the resources. Work out the licensing deal and keep the display on the watch.
> Yes, it's quite amazing that Apple can charge a premium for its devices, some amount of fees from ApplePay use, 15-30% of in-app purchase sales, and developer fees on top of all that, but somehow still doesn't seem to have the means to pay for licensing of some other company's IP they use in their products.
Masimo wouldn't License, and wouldn't Sell. What exactly was Apple to do???
If they were Trump, they'd just send in The National Guard. . .
Re: (Score:3)
> Apple, you have the resources. Work out the licensing deal and keep the display on the watch.
Theres some weird shit happening with it. My watch predates the lawsuit, and I got it because a hospital GP friend told me a number of heart attack patients had been saved after their watch called an ambulance when they collapsed. That sounds pretty good to me. It also measures my blood oxygen which tends a little low for me due to being a smoker in my younger years (it avgs around 95%, it should be 98%).
But it comp
Re: (Score:2)
> Apple, you have the resources. Work out the licensing deal and keep the display on the watch.
They tried.
Masimo wasn't Dealing. Period.