Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Indianwin2001

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 5, 2022
271
267
is Apple ever gonna settle the lawsuit for the blood oxygen surely they can afford to
 
Only Apple and Masimo know. On the other hand, the relevant patent that still exists expires in 2028, so at most it's only three more years. Perhaps Apple feels confident that they will invalidate the patent in court before then at a cost that is lower than what Masimo is demanding in licensing fees?
 
It’s a shame that these patent disputes only seem to hurt consumers in the USA. The rest of the world doesn’t care.

Just FYI here’s a list of countries where blood oxygen readings are available. One country is noticeably absent

 
It’s a shame that these patent disputes only seem to hurt consumers in the USA. The rest of the world doesn’t care.

Just FYI here’s a list of countries where blood oxygen readings are available. One country is noticeably absent

Since I made this post, I traded my apple and went to Garmin. I have emphysema and a blood oxygen is important for me.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: russell_314
Since I made this post, I traded my apple and went to Garmin. I have emphysema and a blood oxygen is important for me.
It still works on my Series 8 Apple Watch because it was made before the whole debacle but if I ever decide to upgrade I’ll lose the feature.

I have sleep apnea. It’s not nearly as serious as emphysema so I would be fine without it. The information is helpful though.
 
It still works on my Series 8 Apple Watch because it was made before the whole debacle but if I ever decide to upgrade I’ll lose the feature.

I have sleep apnea. It’s not nearly as serious as emphysema so I would be fine without it. The information is helpful though.
Yea, but we might get cameras if some kind for AI capabilities - way to keep your priorities!
I have a S7 and a U2 both with SpO2 as well as AC+, so I’ll keep that capability for as long as needed
 
Apple will probably never settle the lawsuit with them and instead wait until the patent expires.

Once the court is involved then there is no turning back and no interest from both parties to revisit and resettle things. As far as things go, other parties say "we won" and Apple will probably be like "Fine. we will do what the court orders us to do. Since you want it this way, I don't see the point of negotiating for a work around".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Indianwin2001
Which is why I left Apple Watch. That feature was important to me. Apple is a big company and it could’ve settled the lawsuit very easily.
 
It still works on my Series 8 Apple Watch because it was made before the whole debacle but if I ever decide to upgrade I’ll lose the feature.

I have sleep apnea. It’s not nearly as serious as emphysema so I would be fine without it. The information is helpful though.
And, you’re not stuck on the 8…..you can also get a Series 9 made before January 18, 2024, like I have. I’m just not planning to upgrade until they have B/O again, or even more importantly, a new blood pressure sensor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: russell_314
Which is why I left Apple Watch. That feature was important to me. Apple is a big company and it could’ve settled the lawsuit very easily.

Apple is a big company precisely because it pays attention to the bottom line to produce products that people can afford (more or less) and hence make money. If it was cost effective Apple would have settled it. Masimo wants too much. Ultimately that cost gets passed on to the consumer and Apple has done the calculation that not enough people want it.. to pass on that cost to all customers.
 
Furthermore, Masimo probably want the oxygen sensor portion of the apple watch disabled in all other markets; however, it will involve challenging the patents in multiple jurisdictions which will be cost prohibitive. Since the lost in revenue in US is probably made up by the watch revenue from the rest of the world with working O2 sensors, Apple probably just say "screw it" and wait until 2028 where the US patent will expire.
 
It certainly costs Apple sales. OP went to Garmin; I'm sticking with my S7.

The question is - do the sales lost (USA only) justify the cost to settle the patent issue?

Apple apparently thinks it does not.
 
It certainly costs Apple sales. OP went to Garmin; I'm sticking with my S7.

The question is - do the sales lost (USA only) justify the cost to settle the patent issue?

Apple apparently thinks it does not.
certainly looks that way.
I would probably have upgraded my U2 to the black one last year, but wasn't going to lose SpO2.
And I will not upgrade this year unless there is SpO2.

I realize that not everyone cares about it, but I do and so do others.
 
  • Like
Reactions: webbuzz
certainly looks that way.
I would probably have upgraded my U2 to the black one last year, but wasn't going to lose SpO2.
And I will not upgrade this year unless there is SpO2.

I realize that not everyone cares about it, but I do and so do others.

If I could give you my sp02 I would, I have it switched off, have done for quite some time. It's a battery hog and I found it to be extremely inconsistent in its readings vs a medical pulse oximeter, but that's just me of course!
 
  • Like
Reactions: doogm
If I could give you my sp02 I would, I have it switched off, have done for quite some time. It's a battery hog and I found it to be extremely inconsistent in its readings vs a medical pulse oximeter, but that's just me of course!
Same. I am a very healthy older person, and I really don't need the oxygen sensor. And honestly the background readings are often wildly inaccurate (in the 80s sometimes.) What's weird to me is that Apple recommends when you take a reading with the Blood Oxygen app that you sit still with your wrist flat and positioned in a way that has the watch pointing up. I sleep on my side, so the watch is rarely ever like that when background readings are taken during sleep, and during the day I doubt that there are times when my wrist is still, sitting flat, with the watch pointing up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarkX
If I could give you my sp02 I would, I have it switched off, have done for quite some time. It's a battery hog and I found it to be extremely inconsistent in its readings vs a medical pulse oximeter, but that's just me of course!
I found the SpO2 on my S8 to be pretty accurate compared to an actual pulse oximeter, but after monitoring it for a while, it was obvious that my SpO2 wasn't an issue so there's no need for me to monitor it other than out of idle curiosity.

My AWU2 doesn't have it, and I'm fine with that - if they reinstate it at some point that would be fine with me and I'd leave it enabled, but it being available or not would never affect a purchase decision for me. I bought the AWU2 knowing full well that it didn't do SpO2 and I was fine with that. I still have my S8, so if I want to look at my SpO2 for funsies I can put it back on and check it, or I can use our pulse oximeter we have at home. A fingertip pulse oximeter costs less than $20 on Amazon and most local pharmacies (Walgreens, CVS, etc.) sell them as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarkX
I regret going from 8 to 10 with the loss of the blood ox readings. I thought this would be resolved before 2028.
In the meantime find the sleep apnea system on 10 of little use to me.
 
I regret going from 8 to 10 with the loss of the blood ox readings. I thought this would be resolved before 2028.
In the meantime find the sleep apnea system on 10 of little use to me.
You could always get rid of it and get an early Series 9….. functionally I don’t believe there’s much difference between the 9 and the 10, only cosmetic.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.