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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Apple’s patent-related change concerns Blood Oxygen on some Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 units in the United States—not every watch in those model families. Check the specific watch’s purchase market and history, whether it already has the original Blood Oxygen feature, and the software on its paired iPhone and watch before deciding whether the change applies.
Which Apple Watch models may be affected?
Apple’s August 14, 2025 announcement describes a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for some U.S. users with Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2 watches that currently lack Blood Oxygen. The model name alone does not establish eligibility. Apple says units purchased outside the United States and previously purchased units that include the original feature are unaffected. Apple’s announcement explains the change and its stated scope.
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How to check your specific watch
- Identify the model family. Confirm whether the watch is a Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2. These are the families named in Apple’s announcement; being one of them does not by itself mean the watch is affected.
- Check where and when it was purchased. Review the receipt, order history, or seller’s records to establish whether the unit was purchased in the U.S. and whether it was previously sold with the original Blood Oxygen feature. Apple says watches purchased outside the U.S. and previously purchased watches that include the original feature are unaffected.
- Check the feature on the watch and paired iPhone. Look for Blood Oxygen availability on the particular unit rather than inferring it from the model family. Apple’s announcement does not provide a serial-number or part-number lookup that conclusively identifies an individual watch’s feature state.
- Check the paired-device software. For the redesigned feature, Apple specifies iOS 18.6.1 on the paired iPhone and watchOS 11.6.1 on the watch. These are the versions named in its August 14, 2025 announcement.
- Confirm where results appear. With the redesigned workflow, the watch collects sensor data while the paired iPhone measures and calculates it. Results appear in the Health app’s Respiratory section.
How to get the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature
If your U.S.-purchased Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2 currently lacks Blood Oxygen, Apple’s stated update path is to update both paired devices to iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. The redesigned experience is not the same workflow as the original feature: calculations take place on the iPhone, and results are shown in Health under Respiratory. Apple’s announcement does not establish eligibility based only on a model name, serial number, or part-number suffix, so confirm the individual unit if the feature remains unavailable.
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What the patent dispute means for owners
The dispute is between Apple and Masimo over wearable blood oxygen measurement technology. Apple attributed the redesigned feature’s availability to a recent U.S. Customs ruling. Separately, a March 19, 2026 Federal Circuit opinion recounts that the International Trade Commission found a Section 337 violation involving specified Masimo patent claims and issued a limited exclusion order against infringing Apple Watches. The opinion also notes that the Commission began a proceeding on November 14, 2025 to consider whether a redesigned watch should also be barred; it states that the order under appeal remained in effect during that proceeding. The opinion does not establish the outcome of that later proceeding. Read the Federal Circuit opinion.
#1 Best Overall
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- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
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Buying a used or retail watch? Verify the exact unit
Ask the seller to demonstrate Blood Oxygen availability on the watch and paired iPhone, and request purchase-market and purchase-history details. Apple’s cited announcement does not give a serial-number or part-number method for conclusively classifying a specific unit. A product listing for Series 9, Series 10, or Ultra 2 therefore cannot guarantee which Blood Oxygen experience that particular watch has. If the seller cannot verify the unit, check with Apple before relying on the model name.
Quick Recap
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
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- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
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- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
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