Apple’s blood oxygen sensor on the Apple Watch is no longer under import ban threat in the U.S. The U.S. International Trade Commission shut down Masimo’s latest push on April 17, 2026, declining to review a judge’s finding that Apple’s redesigned feature sidesteps Masimo’s patents. Data collection happens on the watch. Processing shifts to a paired iPhone. Results show up in the Health app there—not on the watch face.
This closes one front in a battle that started back in 2020. Masimo, a medical device maker, accused Apple of poaching its pulse oximetry tech for the Series 6 launch. Pulse oximeters shine light through skin to gauge oxygen saturation in blood, a staple in hospitals. Apple turned it consumer-grade. Masimo cried foul, filing suit in federal court and hauling the case to the ITC in 2021.
Fast-forward to late 2023. The ITC ruled Apple infringed two Masimo patents. It slapped a limited exclusion order, blocking imports of Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. Apple pulled them from U.S. shelves days before Christmas. Then it crippled the feature via software update. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai let the ban stand, despite Apple’s pleas. A federal appeals court granted a stay, buying time. But the reprieve ended January 18, 2024. Sales halted again.
Apple fought back. Engineers tweaked algorithms. In August 2025, ahead of Series 11, the company rolled out a workaround. Watch sensors gather raw data. iPhones crunch the numbers. U.S. Customs cleared it. Masimo sued Customs anyway, claiming foul play. A federal judge shot that down in December 2025, letting imports continue. But Masimo pressed the ITC for a new ban.
Enter the redesign drama. An ITC judge ruled March 19, 2026, that Apple’s changes—no infringement. The full commission passed on review last week. Case terminated. “The Commission has determined not to review the EID. This combined proceeding is hereby terminated in its entirety,” the ITC order states, per 9to5Mac.
Masimo isn’t done. A California jury hit Apple with a $634 million damages award in November 2025 over one patent. Apple plans to appeal, arguing it expired in 2022. “We remain committed to defending our IP rights moving forward,” Masimo said then (CNET).
But the ITC front? Over. Apple can sell redesigned watches freely. Current models—like Series 10, Ultra 2—keep the iPhone-dependent version. Future ones might restore full watch display. Patents at issue expire around 2028 anyway.
Industry watchers see bigger stakes. Wearables now track SpO2 for sleep apnea hints, altitude effects, even fitness recovery. Apple’s 100 million users generate vast data troves. Masimo wanted licensing fees or exclusion. Got neither here.
Financial hit? Negligible. Apple Watch revenue topped $20 billion yearly. U.S. sales dipped briefly in 2023-24. Workarounds minimized pain. Masimo’s stock swung wild—up on wins, down on losses. Market cap sits under $7 billion versus Apple’s trillions.
Tech at center: LEDs emit red and infrared light. Detectors measure absorption ratios for SpO2. Masimo patented signal processing for wrist wearables. Apple iterated around it. Software shifts proved key. No hardware changes needed.
And the workaround? Users barely notice. Open Health app. See readings. Same accuracy claims. FDA cleared elements years ago, though not as medical devices.
Legal chess. ITC probes unfair imports fast—15 months typical. Federal suits drag. Masimo leveraged both. Apple countered with redesigns, appeals, stays. USTR review added politics in 2023. Biden team weighed public health, economy. Sided against veto.
Recent echoes. Federal Circuit affirmed original ITC infringement March 19, 2026—one day after the judge okayed redesign (Mintz). Old news now. New ruling trumps.
Reuters nailed it first: “Apple defeats bid for new Apple Watch import ban” on April 17 (Reuters). Tom’s Guide declared “ban is over” April 21 (Tom’s Guide). AppleInsider confirmed closure April 18 (AppleInsider).
X buzzed too. 9to5Mac posted: “Apple Watch’s blood oxygen sensor is officially in the clear”—1,000+ likes. Users cheered the iPhone shift.
For insiders: Watch patent expiry dates. Masimo holds more IP. Settlement whispers persist. Apple might pay up quietly. Or not. History says fight on.
Consumers win short-term. Full feature back soon? Likely. Reliability matters. Early Series 6 readings faced accuracy flak. FDA probed. Apple refined.
Broader wearables race heats. Samsung, Google add SpO2. Fitbit too. No bans there. Masimo targeted Apple hardest—market leader.
One saga ends. Innovation rolls. But patents linger. Always do.
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