Apple unveiled new health features for the Series 10 Apple Watch at their recent event, but one important feature was noticeably absent. The blood oxygen feature, which was introduced with the Series 6 device, will not be available on Series 10 models sold in the U.S. While the rest of the world will have access to this technology, U.S. customers will be left without it.
The exclusion of the blood oxygen feature is a direct result of Apple’s ongoing patent dispute with medical device company Masimo. This legal battle forced Apple to disable the feature on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 last year. It is unclear whether the removal of the feature on Series 10 was a hardware change or simply a software disablement. This information will likely become clearer once the smartwatch is available for purchase and experts have had a chance to examine it.
Despite the absence of the blood oxygen feature in the U.S., Apple did announce new health features for the Series 10 that will be available worldwide. These features include sleep apnea detection, showing that Apple is still committed to providing innovative health monitoring capabilities to its customers.
The missing blood oxygen feature on the Apple Watch Series 10 raises questions about the company’s design choices and their ongoing legal battles. If the exclusion is indeed a hardware limitation, it suggests that Apple had to create separate models for different markets, adding complexity to their manufacturing process. On the other hand, if it was a software disablement, it may indicate a temporary measure until the legal issues are resolved.
The absence of the blood oxygen feature on the Apple Watch Series 10 is a significant development that highlights the complexities of the health technology industry. As Apple continues to navigate patent disputes and technological advancements, customers can expect to see a mix of new features and limitations on their smartwatch devices. Ultimately, only time will tell how these challenges will impact the future of wearable health technology.