Apple is bringing back a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature to certain Apple Watch users in the US, following its removal due to legal issues earlier this year.
Starting today, owners of the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 who currently lack the feature will regain it through the latest software updates – iOS 18.6.1 for iPhone and watchOS 11.6.1 for Apple Watch.
Unlike before, the new system processes Blood Oxygen measurements on the paired iPhone rather than directly on the watch. Results will appear in the Respiratory section of the Health app, keeping the wearable’s hardware in compliance with ongoing restrictions while still delivering the functionality to users.
For Apple Watch owners who never lost the feature, nothing will change, and the update won’t affect watches purchased outside the US.
This move subtly balances Apple’s legal constraints with customer expectations, ensuring users in the US can once again check their oxygen saturation levels without losing accuracy or integration with the Health ecosystem.
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