If there is According to Apple, you’ve finally got blood oxygen sensing with a software update later today, with Apple Watch Series 9, 10 or Ultra Watch 2 purchased in the U.S. over the past year.
To make sure you get the feature, update your paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and your Apple Watch to WatchOS 11.6.1. The sensor data will be calculated in the app and you will be able to see your blood oxygen in the breathing section of the health app. If you purchased a watch before 2024 or outside the United States, you won’t see any changes.
A recent U.S. customs ruling settled a one-year dispute with health technology company Masimo. In 2021, Masimo sued Apple, claiming that the Apple Watch Maker infringed one of its patents for optical monitoring. The judge ruled that Apple infringed on patents, and the International Trade Commission upheld the ruling.
Provided by Apple
Apple was forced to suspend sales of two problematic products from 2023 to 2024. When the company launched the Apple Watch Series 10 on its landmark 10th anniversary, it did without blood oxygen sensing. This feature was originally launched on the 2020 Watch Series 6 and has since become the core feature of almost every fitness tracker.
Apple said it “redesigned” the feature but did not share more details. This update solves the biggest problem on Apple’s latest watches. Over the years, many other fitness trackers, such as Garmin, have included blood oxygen sensing. High-end trackers use sensor data to help athletes train at high altitudes for optimal performance, but this feature has become increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You may not necessarily notice your blood oxygen levels immersion, but your watch can. Pulse oximeter sales soared. I realized myself that my cough was pneumonia, and my blood oxygen levels started to drop to around 84%. (The abnormal rating of blood oxygen is not enough to diagnose the disease, and if you read a worrying person from the device, you should see a doctor.)
This is Apple’s positive development ahead of September’s annual event, with the expected debut of the new iPhone and Apple Watch Series 11, which will inevitably introduce a wider range of health features.
