The ‘crucial’ missing feature from Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 could return soon

When Apple unveiled its latest Apple Watch models on September 9, something was missing, at least in the US. The blood oxygen sensor feature that has been on the Apple Watch since the Series 6 launched in 2020 (aside from the Watch SE models) disappeared almost a year ago due to a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. A new report claims it could return soon.

Masimo’s longtime CEO Joe Kiani resigned from the company in recent days and “that could open the door for Apple and Masimo lawyers to work out a deal to bring back the blood-oxygen sensor to new Apple Watches.” said Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.

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This would be good news for consumers. After all, if you bought an Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it first launched in September 2023, it came with a blood oxygen monitoring feature. But if you decided you really had to get the new Ultra 2 in black (and I can’t blame you, it looks pretty nice), you would have had to give up that health feature, as it’s disabled on all Apple Watches with the sensor since January.

The ban only applies to watches sold in the US. On my Series 10 that came from Great Britain, the sensor works perfectly.

While there is no guarantee that a workforce change will lead to a resolution, there is logic that the departure of the CEO, who Gurman said “has been an outspoken critic of Apple for years,” could lead to the two companies losing their position would be revised. . Gurman continues: “I don’t believe Apple wants to make a licensing deal, but I can imagine a deal – financial or not – that would allow the two sides to drop all lawsuits.”

After all, the sensors are still on board the new watches, not to mention the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches that were sold after the dispute disabled the feature. With an agreement it can be turned back on.

This could also mean that Apple “could work with Masimo to integrate that company’s popular hospital equipment with the Health app.”

I use the feature regularly, so its return would be very welcome.

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