Apple Watch blood oxygen feature is here to stay after ITC rejects new import ban

At a glance:

• The US International Trade Commission declined Masimo's request for a new import ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2.
• Apple now offers the blood oxygen (SpO2) feature by processing sensor data on a paired iPhone, with results displayed in the iPhone's Health app.
• A separate jury ruling in November 2025 awarded Masimo $634 million in damages, which Apple plans to appeal, citing the patent's 2022 expiration.

The long-running patent dispute

The Apple Watch's blood oxygen sensor has been at the center of what feels like a never-ending tennis match of legal back-and-forth. In 2020, the Apple Watch Series 6 launched with the sensor that measures your blood's oxygen saturation (SpO2), which is how much oxygen red blood cells pick up from your lungs and transport to the rest of your body. That same year, global medical technology company Masimo filed a lawsuit claiming that Apple's sensor infringed its patents.

The legal battle escalated significantly in 2021 when the US International Trade Commission became involved in the dispute. By January 2023, the ITC upheld that Apple violated Masimo's patents. Then, in December 2023, the commission banned Apple from importing its watches, including the Series 9 and Ultra 2, into the US. To avoid the ban, Apple disabled blood oxygen sensing on its devices sold in the region.

Redesigning the feature to bypass the ban

In August 2025, ahead of the Apple Watch Series 11 launch, Apple reintroduced blood oxygen sensing in a way that was approved by the US Customs and Border Protection. The company circumvented the import ban by using a paired iPhone to analyze and display SpO2 sensor data instead of processing it directly on the Apple Watch. Masimo subsequently sued US Customs over this decision.

An Apple representative explained that the company will continue to offer US users the redesigned version of the blood oxygen feature. In this configuration, sensor data from the Apple Watch's blood oxygen app is measured and calculated on a paired iPhone, with results available in the iPhone's Health app. This architectural shift allowed the device to remain on store shelves while technically complying with the import restrictions that targeted the watch's onboard processing capabilities.

The latest ITC decision

On Friday, the ITC declined Masimo's request for another import ban on the Apple Watch and said it wouldn't review a preliminary ruling finding that the redesigned Apple Watch doesn't infringe Masimo's patents. This is a major win for Apple, as it secures the ability to keep the feature active in its current form.

"We thank the ITC for its decision, which ensures we can continue to offer this important health feature to our users," an Apple representative told CNET. "For more than six years, Masimo has waged a relentless legal campaign against Apple, and nearly all of its claims have been rejected." Unless Masimo decides to appeal the decision and wins that case, Apple can continue offering blood oxygen monitoring without further interruption.

The lingering jury verdict

Despite the ITC's recent ruling in Apple's favor, the legal landscape remains complex due to a separate court outcome. In November 2025, a jury for the US District Court for the Central District of California found that Apple infringed one of Masimo's patents and awarded the company $634 million in damages.

Apple told AppleInsider that it plans to appeal the verdict, claiming that the patent in question actually expired in 2022. This contradiction between the ITC's rejection of a ban and the jury's financial award highlights the fragmented nature of intellectual property law, where different venues can yield vastly different results for the same underlying technology.

What comes next

Though the ITC has rejected another ban on Apple's blood oxygen feature and declined Masimo's request to review the ruling in Apple's favor, Masimo may continue the battle. The company released a statement saying, "We remain committed to defending our IP [intellectual property] rights moving forward," especially given its November win in the district court.

For consumers, the immediate takeaway is stability; the feature is currently live and operational for users in the US who have a Series 9, Ultra 2, or newer models paired with an iPhone. However, industry watchers should keep an eye on the appeal regarding the $634 million verdict, as a final ruling there could still influence future licensing negotiations or software updates, even if the import ban remains lifted.

Alternative options for consumers

While the Apple ecosystem now supports blood oxygen monitoring again through its redesigned workflow, some users may prefer a standalone solution. If you want a device that measures, analyzes, and displays your blood oxygen levels all in one place without relying on a paired smartphone, you could always purchase a traditional pulse oximeter.

These medical devices estimate your blood oxygen level by measuring the light that passes through your finger. While they lack the seamless integration of the Apple Watch, they operate independently of software updates and legal battles, providing a straightforward tool for health monitoring without the corporate drama.