The next Apple Watch likely won't include this popular health feature

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

Blood oxygen monitoring has been gaining traction in the wearables space for a while now. Smartwatches with blood oxygen monitoring functionality can help detect whether there's enough oxygen circulating throughout the body. 

Apple originally implemented the feature on its Series 9 smartwatch, until it got caught up in -- and lost -- a patent lawsuit to Masimo, which resulted in the disabling of the feature on the smartwatch. 

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Recent reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicate that the feature isn't coming back anytime soon, at least not in time for the Apple Watch Series 11's launch this fall. Gurman reports that Apple won't be resolving the patent dispute. An Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this rumor. 

Blood oxygen monitoring is a useful feature for both fitness enthusiasts and people with breathing conditions. For example, people with COVID-19 or pneumonia regularly check their blood oxygen levels to monitor their condition and assess treatment solutions. 

Avid users on the Apple Watch subreddit have long awaited the feature's return. Since the sensor is included on the Series 6 and later models and both Ultra models, the feature is technically available on these watches. To reimpliment the feature onto its smartwatches, Apple would either have to win an appeal, settle the suit with Masimo, or create a new form of blood oxygen sensing, as MacRumors explains.

Or the tech giant could wait until Masimo's blood oxygen monitor patent expires in 2028. TLDR: Regardless of the path Apple takes, blood oxygen monitoring will be a while before it hits our wrists again.  

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Several other wearables now include blood oxygen monitoring in their devices, including Samsung, Garmin, and Polar. 

Even if blood oxygen monitoring doesn't land on the next Apple Watch, we can still expect new features to eventually come our way, like a rumored blood pressure monitoring feature, an Apple Intelligence overhaul, and even an AI health coach. 

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