Apple’s Blood Oxygen feature is finally returning to the Apple Watch in the U.S. — but with a twist. After being removed in late 2023 due to a patent dispute, Apple has found a clever workaround that processes blood oxygen data on your iPhone instead of the watch. In this video, we break down the entire timeline from the ban, to the feature’s removal, to its redesigned comeback — and how you can check if your watch is eligible.
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📲 Supported Models: Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 (U.S. units without the original feature)
⚙️ Requirements: iOS 18.6.1 & watchOS 11.6.1 (public release, not beta)
💡 Check Eligibility: Model number ending in “LW” or “A”
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⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – The 2023 ban & why it happened
00:31 – Apple’s blood oxygen history
00:57 – Import ban impact
01:20 – Watches relaunch without feature
01:59 – Ultra 1 vs Ultra 2 differences
02:43 – Feature returns in redesigned form
03:08 – Eligible devices & software requirements
03:31 – How the new method works
04:25 – How to check your model number
05:02 – Feature is live now