Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc., spoke at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on June 9, 2025, where Apple announced a redesigned blood oxygen feature for certain Apple Watch users. The company said the revamped SpO2 feature will roll out to some Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 owners on Thursday. Apple noted that the update was made possible by a recent U.S. Customs ruling.
The move comes after the International Trade Commission in 2023 found that Apple’s blood oxygen sensors infringed on intellectual property owned by Masimo, a medical technology company. In response, Apple paused the sale of some watch models and began offering modified versions of the wearables without the blood oxygen feature.
In announcing the rollout, Apple emphasized that its teams strive to deliver health, wellness, and safety features that are grounded in science while maintaining a privacy-first approach.
What this means and why it matters
– Reintroduction of SpO2 sensing: After years of legal disputes and selective product changes, Apple is bringing back a redesigned blood oxygen feature for newer Apple Watch models, signaling a path forward after IP-related restrictions.
– Regulatory enablement: The update’s timing hinges on a U.S. Customs ruling, illustrating how regulatory decisions can influence how tech companies deploy health sensors in consumer devices.
– Continued IP landscape: The Masimo dispute remains a backdrop to Apple’s health sensing efforts, with the company choosing to modify hardware or software to align with legal rulings while expanding features for users.
Potential impact for users
– Health monitoring: Users of the eligible Apple Watch models may gain access to enhanced blood oxygen monitoring again, potentially with new safeguards or algorithms designed to avoid IP issues.
– Privacy and reliability: Apple reiterates its commitment to privacy while delivering health features backed by scientific grounding, which could reassure users concerned about data handling.
Positive note and outlook
The restored feature underscores Apple’s continuing investment in health technology and its ability to navigate complex regulatory and IP environments to bring useful capabilities to customers. If the redesigned sensor maintains accuracy and privacy standards, it could broaden the accessibility and usefulness of blood oxygen monitoring on wearables, supporting users in tracking wellness more effectively.
Summary
Apple announced at WWDC that a redesigned blood oxygen feature will return to select Apple Watch models, enabled by a U.S. Customs ruling and following a Masimo IP dispute. The rollout targets Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 watches, reflecting Apple’s ongoing efforts to balance innovation with legal and regulatory constraints while prioritizing user privacy.