Tech Desk
Sep 11, 2024
Apple's recently concluded Glowtime event has gained immense traction owing to the launch of the latest iPhone 16 series, AirPods 4, Apple Watch Series 10 and much more.
Out of the said products, the last one, the Apple Watch Series 10, has so far proved to be stacking up well against the competent wearable market, offering significantly enhanced features and performance.
However, when it comes to delivering up to expectations, the Apple Watch Series 10 has missed the mark for not integrating a feature: blood oxygen tracking.
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Also called SpO2 level analysis, the blood oxygen tracking feature has been on Apple's flagship Apple Watch for over a decade now, but the tech giant this year seems to have opted out of this valuable health feature.
The omission of the blood oxygen feature stems from a ban imposed on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US earlier this year, which compelled Apple to halt the sales of its most-selling wearable. The ban was an outcome of a patent infringement Apple committed on a medical tech manufacturer named Masimo.
As the Apple Watch Series 10 has launched without featuring a blood oxygen tracking app, it appears that the same ban has enfolded the new Apple Watch series as well.
As it stands, Apple Watch Series 10 users in the US won't be able to have the Blood Oxygen app. “The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States beginning January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A,” stated a footnote on the official Apple Store webpage.
