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So did they just give up on Blood-Oxygen sensing on the Watch? Thought it might be a good time to update my Watch 6 (black titanium) to a 10, since they brought

So did they just give up on Blood-Oxygen sensing on the Watch? Thought it might be a good time to update my Watch 6 (black titanium) to a 10, since they brought back the black titanium, but they just have no answer for the blood-oxygen lawsuit?

ayhanfuat 2y ago
Maybe they are just not reporting it. Sleep apnea detection is probably using blood oxygen levels.
- laweijfmvo 2y ago
  I checked the "Compare" page and it confirms no blood oxygen on Series 10 and Ultra 2. It's basically the one thing the 6 does better.
- xattt 2y ago
  It’s pretty unsexy for Apple to say they’re using their sound recognition tech to listen for snoring.
- flutas 2y ago
  As the other commenter said it does seem like Apple might have either straight up removed it or is disabling it in software entirely for now. Comparison page lists the "Blood Oxygen app" for the S6 through S8, but S9 and S10 both just have "-" for that comparison section like the S5 has. https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-10,watch-series-8,watch-series-5 https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-... EDIT: Another difference between them is the Vitals App description removing the blood oxygen reference. S10: "Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration" S08: "Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration"
  - dc3k 2y ago
    it is likely that they are disabling it in software as it is only missing on the product page for the usa
    - flutas 2y ago
      Good call-out!
    - ValentineC 2y ago
      Here's a non-US comparison link, for anyone interested: https://www.apple.com/sg/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-5,watch-series-9,watch-series-10 https://www.apple.com/sg/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-seri...
  - qingcharles 2y ago
    Patent issue, right? https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-updated-their-pulse-oximeter-patent-today-its-unknown-if-it-will-be-enough-to-reinstate-this-apple-watch-fe.html https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-update...
- skygazer 2y ago
  It was using the accelerometer to detect breaths, or absence, and uses a month's worth of data, so not using O2 at all.
_ph_ 2y ago
Wow, if they removed the blood oxygen measurement, I will keep my S7 Apple watch. I had planned an upgrade.
- ninininino 2y ago
  Removed for US purchasers. Fine elsewhere.
  - _ph_ 2y ago
    The German website doesn't list it either, but lets hope that is just an issue with the web site. Edit: if you go to the comparison page, it lists the blood oxygene app for the 10 and the Ultra 2, so great :)
billfor 2y ago
The Samsung Galaxy Watch series still supports it, as well as blood pressure and sleep apnea (though you may have to hack it slightly to unlock those features in the US).
callalex 2y ago
It’s been really crappy the entire time it existed, so it’s not a big loss. I have my watch on quite snugly (but not too tight), and fairly high on my wrist, and the stupid thing only takes maybe 3-5 measurements per DAY. Also, it cannot take measurements while exercising, or even moving.
- tuatoru 2y ago
  It takes more frequent measurements in "sleep" focus mode (Settings > Focus.)
sunnybeetroot 2y ago
I’m on the 9 and have blood oxygen sensor, are they removing it in the 10?
raydev 2y ago
They didn't "give up", they were sued and had to remove it (at least in the US). This is the most recent update I could find: https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/5/24122407/apple-watch-masimo-itc-appeal-smartwatch-wearables https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/5/24122407/apple-watch-masim...
vault_ 2y ago
Probably a result of the patent dispute over the feature: https://apnews.com/article/apple-watch-patent-dispute-sales-ban-masimo-c54d277fad08fdca15576451cb2a600e https://apnews.com/article/apple-watch-patent-dispute-sales-...
qingcharles 2y ago
Patent issue, it is blocked in the USA, IIRC. Here's one thing I saw about it: https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-updated-their-pulse-oximeter-patent-today-its-unknown-if-it-will-be-enough-to-reinstate-this-apple-watch-fe.html https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-update...
cmcaleer 2y ago
Anecdotally I found it worthless anyway. I tried a variety of straps, tightness, positions, but I think the freckles on my white skin just confused it. Finger monitors consistently have it at 98%+. Apple Watch: “Your Blood Oxygen content is 85-100%”. Thank you Apple, very cool. No real pattern to the large outliers, they’d happen at all times of the day, even with my girlfriend’s watch that I asked for a lend of.

ayhanfuat 2y ago

Maybe they are just not reporting it. Sleep apnea detection is probably using blood oxygen levels.

laweijfmvo 2y ago
I checked the "Compare" page and it confirms no blood oxygen on Series 10 and Ultra 2. It's basically the one thing the 6 does better.
xattt 2y ago
It’s pretty unsexy for Apple to say they’re using their sound recognition tech to listen for snoring.
flutas 2y ago
As the other commenter said it does seem like Apple might have either straight up removed it or is disabling it in software entirely for now. Comparison page lists the "Blood Oxygen app" for the S6 through S8, but S9 and S10 both just have "-" for that comparison section like the S5 has. https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-10,watch-series-8,watch-series-5 https://www.apple.com/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-... EDIT: Another difference between them is the Vitals App description removing the blood oxygen reference. S10: "Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration" S08: "Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration"
- dc3k 2y ago
  it is likely that they are disabling it in software as it is only missing on the product page for the usa
  - flutas 2y ago
    Good call-out!
  - ValentineC 2y ago
    Here's a non-US comparison link, for anyone interested: https://www.apple.com/sg/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-series-5,watch-series-9,watch-series-10 https://www.apple.com/sg/watch/compare/?modelList=watch-seri...
- qingcharles 2y ago
  Patent issue, right? https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-updated-their-pulse-oximeter-patent-today-its-unknown-if-it-will-be-enough-to-reinstate-this-apple-watch-fe.html https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-update...
skygazer 2y ago
It was using the accelerometer to detect breaths, or absence, and uses a month's worth of data, so not using O2 at all.

_ph_ 2y ago

Wow, if they removed the blood oxygen measurement, I will keep my S7 Apple watch. I had planned an upgrade.

ninininino 2y ago
Removed for US purchasers. Fine elsewhere.
- _ph_ 2y ago
  The German website doesn't list it either, but lets hope that is just an issue with the web site. Edit: if you go to the comparison page, it lists the blood oxygene app for the 10 and the Ultra 2, so great :)

billfor 2y ago

The Samsung Galaxy Watch series still supports it, as well as blood pressure and sleep apnea (though you may have to hack it slightly to unlock those features in the US).

callalex 2y ago

It’s been really crappy the entire time it existed, so it’s not a big loss. I have my watch on quite snugly (but not too tight), and fairly high on my wrist, and the stupid thing only takes maybe 3-5 measurements per DAY. Also, it cannot take measurements while exercising, or even moving.

tuatoru 2y ago
It takes more frequent measurements in "sleep" focus mode (Settings > Focus.)

sunnybeetroot 2y ago

I’m on the 9 and have blood oxygen sensor, are they removing it in the 10?

raydev 2y ago

They didn't "give up", they were sued and had to remove it (at least in the US). This is the most recent update I could find: https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/5/24122407/apple-watch-masimo-itc-appeal-smartwatch-wearables https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/5/24122407/apple-watch-masim...

vault_ 2y ago

Probably a result of the patent dispute over the feature: https://apnews.com/article/apple-watch-patent-dispute-sales-ban-masimo-c54d277fad08fdca15576451cb2a600e https://apnews.com/article/apple-watch-patent-dispute-sales-...

qingcharles 2y ago

Patent issue, it is blocked in the USA, IIRC. Here's one thing I saw about it: https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-updated-their-pulse-oximeter-patent-today-its-unknown-if-it-will-be-enough-to-reinstate-this-apple-watch-fe.html https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/07/while-apple-has-update...

cmcaleer 2y ago

Anecdotally I found it worthless anyway. I tried a variety of straps, tightness, positions, but I think the freckles on my white skin just confused it. Finger monitors consistently have it at 98%+. Apple Watch: “Your Blood Oxygen content is 85-100%”. Thank you Apple, very cool. No real pattern to the large outliers, they’d happen at all times of the day, even with my girlfriend’s watch that I asked for a lend of.