Title: Apple Removes Blood Oxygen Feature from Latest Apple Watches Amidst Legal Battle with Masimo
In a surprising turn of events, Apple has decided to remove the blood oxygen feature from its latest Apple Watches in order to continue selling them in the United States. This unusual move comes as the tech giant finds itself entangled in a legal battle with medical device company Masimo.
The modified versions of the highly anticipated Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are set to hit the market soon, albeit without the blood oxygen feature. Users will now find that tapping on the blood oxygen icon on the modified watch will lead them to an explanation on Apple’s website, instead of the actual functionality.
This decision follows a ruling by the International Trade Commission, stating that Apple’s watch sensors for blood oxygen had violated Masimo’s patents. Consequently, the affected watches were banned from being sold in December. Although the appeals court has lifted the injunction blocking the ban from taking effect, Apple remains hopeful that the decision will be reversed in due course.
What makes this move particularly noteworthy is that Apple typically refrains from removing features from their released products. However, given the legal implications and the desire to continue selling its latest wearables in the U.S. market, the company has made this unprecedented alteration.
Despite this setback, Apple’s sales of wearables, which include headphones, have been experiencing remarkable success. In fiscal 2023 alone, the company’s wearables sales reached an impressive $39.8 billion.
As Apple navigates this legal battle with Masimo, consumers eagerly await the release of the modified Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. While the removal of the blood oxygen feature may disappoint some, Apple’s dedication to resolving the dispute and ensuring the availability of their products remains resolute.
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