Apple has announced that the Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches will now be sold without the blood oxygen feature in the United States, following a continued patent dispute with health tech company Masimo. The revised models come after an import ban on these smartwatches by the U.S. International Trade Commission due to the ongoing litigation over the SpO2 sensor. Despite the setback, Apple assures customers who previously bought the devices that there will be no impact on their existing wearables. The SE model does not contain the disputed technology and remains unaffected by the ban. These updated Apple Watches are available at Apple's retail stores and on their website. The blood oxygen monitoring feature was first introduced with the Series 6 Apple Watch in 2020 and has been a highlight of the Apple Watch features until the legal issues arose.

Why has Apple removed the blood oxygen sensor feature from the Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches?

The blood oxygen sensor has been removed from the Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches due to an import ban resulting from a patent dispute between Apple and health tech company Masimo. The legal issues revolved around the technology used for oxygen saturation monitoring, leading to the decision to sell the watches without this feature in the U.S.

The Apple Watch Series was first introduced in 2015 and has become a benchmark for wearable technology, known for blending fashion with a suite of health and fitness features. Over the years, the Apple Watch has evolved, adding new health monitoring functions with each iteration, such as ECG and fall detection, making it an essential tool for many users looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With the recent controversy, Apple's ability to innovate in the space of health technology seems to have hit a roadblock, which could impact future developments and the competitive edge of the Apple Watch series.