Does the Apple Watch Series 9 have blood oxygen monitoring?

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The Apple Watch Series 9 contains blood oxygen monitoring hardware, but this feature is currently disabled on new units sold in the United States due to ongoing patent litigation with Masimo Corporation.

Current Availability Status:

US Market: Blood oxygen monitoring is disabled on all new Apple Watch Series 9 units following an International Trade Commission ruling in late 2023.

International Markets: The blood oxygen feature remains fully functional on Series 9 models purchased outside the United States.

Pre-Ban Units: Apple Watch Series 9 models purchased in the US before the legal restriction retain full blood oxygen monitoring capability.

Legal Background: The feature removal resulted from a patent dispute with Masimo Corporation regarding pulse oximetry technology. This restriction is expected to continue until relevant patents expire, potentially around 2028.

Alternative Options:

• Purchase from international retailers (warranty limitations may apply)
• Consider other devices with blood oxygen monitoring (select Fitbit models, medical-grade pulse oximeters)
• Wait for potential legal resolution

Unaffected Health Features: All other Apple Watch Series 9 health monitoring capabilities remain fully operational:

• Heart rate monitoring and notifications
• ECG readings and atrial fibrillation detection
• Sleep tracking and sleep apnea detection
• Cycle tracking and other wellness features

Bottom Line: While the blood oxygen restriction is disappointing for US buyers, the Apple Watch Series 9 remains a comprehensive health and fitness tracker with extensive monitoring capabilities across all other wellness metrics.