iOS 26, watchOS 26 Beta 7 bring back Blood Oxygen feature with a twist for U.S. Apple Watch users

Apple has reintroduced the Blood Oxygen feature for select Apple Watch models in the U.S.; but not without a major redesign. Rolling out with iOS 26 and watchOS 26 Beta 7, the updated feature is now available for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 units sold in the U.S. from mid-January 2024 onwards.

Previously disabled due to a patent dispute with Masimo, these models had the Blood Oxygen feature removed following a U.S. ITC ruling. Apple’s workaround? Shift the data processing to the iPhone. Now, sensor data is collected by the watch, but measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, with results viewable in the Health app under the Respiratory section.

The redesigned functionality first appeared with iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, and is now making its way to beta testers on Apple’s latest platforms.

Apple Watch units sold outside the U.S. or before January 2024 remain unaffected and retain the original, on-watch Blood Oxygen app introduced back in 2020 with the Series 6.

With Apple continuing to navigate legal hurdles while maintaining user features, this redesign keeps vital health tracking alive, albeit with a slightly different workflow for U.S. users.