Apple Drops Blood Oxygen Sensor from Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2

Apple, the tech giant, has recently made a significant change to its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. The company has removed the blood oxygen sensor from these wearables, following a legal dispute with health tech company Masimo over the oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensor.

The removal of the blood oxygen feature comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Apple’s request to extend the pause on the import ban of both smartwatches. The ban, which was initially set by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC), was part of an ongoing patent dispute between Apple and Masimo.

Apple had originally pulled the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from sale in the United States to comply with the ban. However, the company won an appeal to pause the ban from going into effect a few days later. Now, with the ban in place, Apple has revised the devices to remove the blood oxygen sensor.

The revised Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will be available for purchase in both Apple’s retail stores and on the company’s official website. According to Apple, there will be “no impact” on the devices that were purchased before the ban.

Masimo, the health tech company at the center of the dispute, had originally accused Apple of poaching its employees and infringing on its patents. The legal complaint also alleged that Apple’s blood oxygen sensor was not an original invention but rather a copy of Masimo’s technology.

Apple had introduced the blood oxygen sensor to its wearables in 2020 with the Series 6. The sensor was then available on the Series 7 and Ultra before making its way onto the Series 9 and Ultra 2 last year. Apple has discontinued the sale of the Series 6, Series 7, and Ultra, leaving the Series 9, Ultra 2, and the SE (Gen 2) as the only available models.

The SE (Gen 2), which is Apple’s lower-end wearable, remains unaffected by the ban as it does not feature the blood oxygen technology.

Before the Series 6 was released, Masimo had sued Apple over the blood oxygen patents. The legal complaint also alleged that Apple was poaching its employees.

Taylor Lyles, a reporter at IGN, broke the news of the removal of the blood oxygen sensor from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. According to Lyles, the revised devices will be available for purchase starting today.

The removal of the blood oxygen sensor is not a significant loss for some users, as the feature was known to be inaccurate. Masimo, in a letter to Apple, had revealed that Apple was planning a workaround to remove the sensor on both wearables.

The legal dispute between Apple and Masimo is not the first time the two companies have clashed. In 2014, Masimo had accused Apple of infringing on its patents related to pulse oximetry technology. The dispute was eventually settled out of court.

Apple’s removal of the blood oxygen sensor from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is a significant move that could impact the company’s sales in the United States. The wearables, which were once popular for their health tracking features, will now be less attractive to consumers who value the blood oxygen monitoring capability.

Despite the legal dispute, Apple remains a dominant player in the wearable technology market. The company’s Apple Watch continues to be a popular choice among consumers, with the latest Series 8 and SE (Gen 2) models receiving positive reviews for their fitness tracking capabilities and design.

In conclusion, Apple’s removal of the blood oxygen sensor from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is a significant move that could impact the company’s sales in the United States. The legal dispute with Masimo over the oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensor has resulted in the revised devices, which will no longer feature the blood oxygen monitoring capability. The removal of the feature is not a significant loss for some users, as the feature was known to be inaccurate. However, it could impact Apple’s sales in the United States, as the health tracking capability was a popular feature among consumers. Apple remains a dominant player in the wearable technology market, with the latest Series 8 and SE (Gen 2) models receiving positive reviews for their fitness tracking capabilities and design.