When Apple revealed its latest Apple Watch models on Sept. 9, there was something missing, in the U.S. at least. The blood oxygen sensing feature which has been on the Apple Watch since Series 6 launched in 2020 (apart from Watch SE models) vanished almost a year ago because of a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. A new report claims it may return soon.
The longtime CEO of Masimo, Joe Kiani, has resigned from the company in the last few days and “that could open the door for lawyers from Apple and Masimo to work out a deal to bring blood-oxygen sensing back to new Apple Watches,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
This would be good news for consumers. After all, if you bought an Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it first launched in Sept. 2023, it came with the blood oxygen measuring feature. But if you decided you really must have the new Ultra 2 in black—and I can’t blame you, it’s pretty great-looking—you’d have had to give up that health feature as it’s been disabled on all Apple Watches with the sensor since January.
The ban only applies to Watches sold in the U.S. by the way. On my Series 10 which came from the U.K., the sensor works perfectly.
While there’s no certainty that a change in personnel will lead to a solution, there’s logic that the departure of the CEO who, according to Gurman, “had been a vocal critic of Apple for years,” could lead to the two companies resetting their position. Gurman goes on, “I don’t believe Apple will want to reach a licensing agreement, but I could imagine a deal—financial or not—that lets the two sides drop all litigation.”
After all, the sensors are still on board the new Watches, not to mention the Series 9 and Ultra 2 Watches sold after the dispute saw the feature turned off. With an agreement, it could be turned back on.
This could also meant that Apple could, “work with Masimo on integrating that company’s popular hospital equipment with the Health app.”
I use the feature regularly, so its return would be very welcome.
