# Does the Apple Watch Series 9 have blood oxygen monitoring?

> Expert answer about Apple Watch Series 9

*Published: 2025-09-03 | Updated: 2025-09-03 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/apple-watch-series-9-blood-oxygen-monitoring*

---

## Product: Apple Watch Series 9 45mm
**Brand:** Apple

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.

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| OWC | $279.00  | Check |
| Amazon | $329.00  | Check |

---

*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*