I Apple WatchThe blood oxygen sensor was in the middle of what felt like an endless back-and-forth tennis match.
In 2020, the Apple Watch Series 6 launched with a sensor that measures your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), which is the number of red blood cells that pick up oxygen from your lungs and transport it throughout your body. That same year, global medical technology company Masimo filed a lawsuit claiming Apple’s sensor infringed its patents.
In 2023, the US International Trade Commission sided with Masimo and imposed an import ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. Apple later, in August 2025, circumvented this by re-introducing a blood oxygen feature using a paired iPhone to analyze and display SpO2 sensor data.
However, on Friday, the ITC rejected Masimo’s request for another import ban on the Apple Watch and said it would not review the original ruling that found the redesigned Apple Watch did not infringe Masimo’s patents. This is a big win for Apple.
“We thank the ITC for its decision, which ensures that we can continue to provide this important health feature to our users,” an Apple representative told CNET. “For more than six years, Masimo has waged a legal campaign against Apple, and almost all of its claims have been rejected.”
Unless Masimo decides to appeal the decision and wins that case, Apple can continue to provide blood oxygen monitoring.
But according to the history of this case, it may not be the end of this game.
The history of Apple’s oxygen ban
The ITC became involved in Masimo’s legal battle with Apple in 2021, and in January 2023, it confirmed that Apple had infringed Masimo’s patents. Then, in December 2023, the ITC prevented Apple from importing its watches, including the Series 9 and Ultra 2, to the US.
To avoid being banned, Apple disabled blood oxygen sensing in its machines.
Before the launch of Apple Watch Series 11, Apple also introduced blood oxygen sensing in August 2025, approved by US Customs and Border Protection. It reached blocking by using pairs The iPhone analyzing and displaying blood oxygen levels instead of the Apple Watch. Masimo sued US Customs over the decision.
An Apple representative said the company will continue to offer US users a redesigned version of the blood oxygen feature, where sensor data from the Apple Watch blood oxygen app is measured and calculated via a paired iPhone, with results available in the iPhone’s Health app.
When it restarts, you’ll be able to view your blood oxygen levels in the Health app for iPhone.
In November 2025, a judge in the US District Court for the Central District of California found that Apple had infringed one of Masimo’s patents and awarded the company $634 million in damages. Apple told AppleInsider that it plans to file an appeal, saying the patent expires in 2022.
Although the ITC rejected another ban on Apple’s blood oxygen element and rejected Masimo’s request to review the decision in Apple’s favor, Masimo may continue the fight, especially since it won in November, after which the company issued a statement saying, “We are committed to protecting our IP.” [intellectual property] rights go forward.”
Masimo declined to comment.
Meanwhile, if you want a device that measures, analyzes and displays your blood oxygen levels all in one place, you can always buy a pulse oximeter. It measures the oxygen level in your blood by measuring the light passing through your finger. There are no nasty legal battles involved.
