In a move that has left many Apple Watch owners and prospective buyers scratching their heads, the tech giant has removed the blood oxygen feature from its latest watch models. The feature, which was introduced in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2, allowed users to measure their blood oxygen levels with just a few taps on their wrist.
The decision to remove the feature comes amid a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo, which claimed that the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen sensors infringed on its patents. The International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of Masimo, and Apple was ordered to stop selling the watches in the US.
Apple has since filed an appeal and has made changes to the watches in an attempt to avoid Masimo’s patents. However, the company has not commented on the status of the blood oxygen feature, leading to speculation that it may be permanently removed.
The removal of the blood oxygen feature has left many Apple Watch owners feeling frustrated and disappointed. The feature was a key selling point for the watches, and many users relied on it to monitor their health and wellness.
“I was really looking forward to using the blood oxygen feature on my new Apple Watch,” said one user. “I was excited to be able to track my health and fitness in a more comprehensive way. Now, I feel like I’ve been left with a useless device.”
Others have expressed concern about the potential health implications of the feature’s removal. “I rely on the blood oxygen feature to monitor my health,” said another user. “I have a condition that affects my oxygen levels, and I need to be able to track them closely. Without this feature, I’m left with no way to do so.”
Apple has not yet commented on the status of the blood oxygen feature, but the company has assured customers that it is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. In the meantime, users are advised to continue using their watches as usual and to check for updates on the company’s website.
The patent dispute with Masimo is just the latest in a series of legal battles for Apple. The company has been embroiled in a number of high-profile lawsuits in recent years, including a dispute with Qualcomm over patent infringement and a case against the US government over the FBI’s request to unlock an iPhone.
Despite the setbacks, Apple remains one of the world’s most valuable companies, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion.
Apple watches are not banned. However, Apple has been ordered to stop selling some of its smartwatches in the United States due to a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Masimo, a medical technology company. The lawsuit alleges that Apple’s watches infringe on Masimo’s patents related to pulse oximetry, a technology that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
In December 2020, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of Masimo and ordered Apple to stop selling the watches that infringe on Masimo’s patents. Apple has since removed the feature from its watches in the US market. However, the ban does not apply to other countries where the watches are still available for purchase.
It’s important to note that the ban is specific to the feature that infringes on Masimo’s patents and does not apply to all Apple watches or all of Apple’s products. Apple has also stated that it plans to appeal the decision and is working on a software update to address the issue.
Apple has not removed the blood oxygen sensor from its watches. The company has been ordered to stop selling some of its smartwatches in the United States due to a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Masimo, a medical technology company. The lawsuit alleges that Apple’s watches infringe on Masimo’s patents related to pulse oximetry, a technology that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
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