Do USA watch S10's have the blood Oxygen sensor

[jabbawok]

I’m visiting the USA at the moment and thinking of getting an s10 as it works out a good saving compared to the UK price. I’m wondering if the USA s10 has the blood oxygen sensor present and disabled like The s9 and u2 or its missing the hardware on the USA models. If I buy one in the UK it will be present and functional and I know if I buy a USA one it will be at least be disabled if it’s present, but I figure Apple will get the ban overturned eventually and re enable the sensor on the s9 and ultra2 And the hope is the s10.
I guess it should be visible on the back of the watch?

 

[TKSX]

If I am correct, it will be enabled or disabled based on where your apple ID is registered. In other words, if your HQ is in UK, buying a watch in USA and register it with a UK Apple ID should enable the Blood O2 sensor. Based on many people on this form, they claim the blood O2 hardware is in every watch sold in USA but disabled by software based on where it is activated and the apple ID as well as when the watch is manufactured. In other words, it should work out for you since your apple ID is probably registered in UK.

Of course, if it doesn't work out you can always return the watch in 14 days.

However, if you don't want to deal with all these drama, it might be best to make the purchase in UK in case of what I said above is incorrect.

 

[Howard2k]

If I am correct, it will be enabled or disabled based on where your apple ID is registered. In other words, if your HQ is in UK, buying a watch in USA and register it with a UK Apple ID should enable the Blood O2 sensor. Based on many people on this form, they claim the blood O2 hardware is in every watch sold in USA but disabled by software based on where it is activated and the apple ID as well as when the watch is manufactured. In other words, it should work out for you since your apple ID is probably registered in UK.

Of course, if it doesn't work out you can always return the watch in 14 days.

However, if you don't want to deal with all these drama, it might be best to make the purchase in UK in case of what I said above is incorrect.

No, the US watches sold by Apple have in the past had a separate product code and have had the O2 disabled. It’s not activated or deactivated at activation or based on Apple ID details.

Likely it’s in the S10 too and disabled, but I haven’t seen any solid confirmation.

 

[jz0309]

I’m visiting the USA at the moment and thinking of getting an s10 as it works out a good saving compared to the UK price. I’m wondering if the USA s10 has the blood oxygen sensor present and disabled like The s9 and u2 or its missing the hardware on the USA models. If I buy one in the UK it will be present and functional and I know if I buy a USA one it will be at least be disabled if it’s present, but I figure Apple will get the ban overturned eventually and re enable the sensor on the s9 and ultra2 And the hope is the s10.
I guess it should be visible on the back of the watch?

see @Howard2k response above, it's a different model # and I seriously doubt it (SpO2) will work in the UK ...
Buy at your own risk

 

[jabbawok]

see @Howard2k response above, it's a different model # and I seriously doubt it (SpO2) will work in the UK ...
Buy at your own risk

I’m not expecting it to work in the UK, as I understand it, they disable it based on the place it’s sold not activated. On the S9s it’s disabled in software and can be enabled with a jailbroke iPhone. I’m wondering if they’ve taken the same approach with the S10 anticipating they will eventually resolve the patent issue and push out a software update to enable it in the USA. It’s not a show stopper for me, I’m mostly just curious.

 

[jz0309]

I’m not expecting it to work in the UK, as I understand it, they disable it based on the place it’s sold not activated. On the S9s it’s disabled in software and can be enabled with a jailbroke iPhone. I’m wondering if they’ve taken the same approach with the S10 anticipating they will eventually resolve the patent issue and push out a software update to enable it in the USA. It’s not a show stopper for me, I’m mostly just curious.

you can jailbreak iOS 18? I have no idea, never was interested in that.
But yes, rumors have it that Apple can unlock the SpO2 feature once the patent dispute is cleared, whether or not that process is also tied to the location of the watch, no idea.
Good luck whatever you decide to do

 

[pesos]

If I have a US iphone and US apple ID, but live in Japan and buy an S10 at the Japanese apple store, will the sensor function or will my ID's 'muricaness disable it?

 

[Craig6078]

Blood oxygen works in UK

 

[Howard2k]

View attachment 2430594Blood oxygen works in UK

It’s only US watches that have it disabled.

 

[newellj]

View attachment 2430594Blood oxygen works in UK

Probably more accurately, blood oxygen works in watches purchased in the UK

 

[pesos]

Probably more accurately, blood oxygen works in watches purchased in the UK

This is what I'm trying to pin down... So if I purchase a watch here in Japan, it doesn't matter that my apple ID is USA region? My blood oxygen sensor will still function?

 

[ebika]

This is what I'm trying to pin down... So if I purchase a watch here in Japan, it doesn't matter that my apple ID is USA region? My blood oxygen sensor will still function?

Yes. Even when buying in the US and using a US Apple ID, blood ox works if you buy the model with it active. It’s an import restriction rather than a usage restriction. (source: I have an ultra 2 in the US with functional blood ox)

 

[pesos]

Yes. Even when buying in the US and using a US Apple ID, blood ox works if you buy the model with it active. It’s an import restriction rather than a usage restriction. (source: I have an ultra 2 in the US with functional blood ox)

Thanks! Sorry how did you get one in the states? Or did you snag it before the change was made? I have US Apple gift cards to use while visiting next week, but sounds like maybe I should pay cash here in Japan instead…

 

[ebika]

Thanks! Sorry how did you get one in the states? Or did you snag it before the change was made? I have US Apple gift cards to use while visiting next week, but sounds like maybe I should pay cash here in Japan instead…

I bought it from Amazon shortly before the import ban went live. The model numbers are different (different suffix), so just verify that before buying.

 

[pesos]

I bought it from Amazon shortly before the import ban went live. The model numbers are different (different suffix), so just verify that before buying.

Thank you. I assume Amazon no longer has the “good” ones, so buying here in Japan is safest?

 

[ebika]

Thank you. I assume Amazon no longer has the “good” ones, so buying here in Japan is safest?

I don’t see them on Amazon any more. I only see the LW/A ones missing blood ox. Also, I don’t think the S10 with blood ox was ever in the US.

 

[GBstoic]

View attachment 2430594Blood oxygen works in UK

But that’s an Ultra2, not the new Series 10.

 

[TKSX]

Thank you. I assume Amazon no longer has the “good” ones, so buying here in Japan is safest?

Please do note that the cellular function of the watch might be different if purchased in Japan.

 

[shady16]

So is the hardware in the USA watches so if they settle the lawsuit they could update the watches and enable blood ox?

 

[Howard2k]

So is the hardware in the USA watches so if they settle the lawsuit they could update the watches and enable blood ox?

That seems to be the case.

"Could" update and enable.

 

[jabbawok]

So is the hardware in the USA watches so if they settle the lawsuit they could update the watches and enable blood ox?

That is the exact question I was asking, just with my specific context.

 

[FSMBP]

That is the exact question I was asking, just with my specific context.

i have the same question and i have not seen any teardowns of the 10 series. So until someone does the tear down, there is no answer.

 

[jz0309]

i have the same question and i have not seen any teardowns of the 10 series. So until someone does the tear down, there is no answer.

I had similar thoughts but then again I do not recall ever seeing a tear down on any watch and more so since the sensors are somewhat integrated into the sapphire, any tear down would be destructible …
But you are correct, Apple is numb on this but it is widely said that the sensors are there and can be activated if Apple decides to do so.
Me, I wouldn’t play the game buying an AW in the US “hoping” SpO2 will work in any other country

 

[BugeyeSTI]

So is the hardware in the USA watches so if they settle the lawsuit they could update the watches and enable blood ox?

That is the exact question I was asking, just with my specific context.

i have the same question and i have not seen any teardowns of the 10 series. So until someone does the tear down, there is no answer.

SPo2 sensor hardware is still in U.S. watches, Apple disabled it through software.. Here's the MacRumors article:

Apple Watch Pulse Oximetry Can Be Reactivated Through Software in 2028 or With Successful Appeal

Apple has been selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen monitoring feature in the U.S. since mid-January,...

www.macrumors.com

Another article from TechRadar about the S10:

Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 may get blood oxygen monitoring back, hints leaker

Finally!

www.techradar.com

 

[jabbawok]

SPo2 sensor hardware is still in U.S. watches, Apple disabled it through software.. Here's the MacRumors article:

Apple Watch Pulse Oximetry Can Be Reactivated Through Software in 2028 or With Successful Appeal

Apple has been selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen monitoring feature in the U.S. since mid-January,...

www.macrumors.com

Another article from TechRadar about the S10:

Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 may get blood oxygen monitoring back, hints leaker

Finally!

www.techradar.com

The first article is s9 and u2 and the second article is a lot of ‘maybe’ and ‘could’. That said, I think it’s very likely the hardware is present in the USA watches, partly because it would cost more to make two different watches, now I’m pretty sure the cellular hardware is worldwide rather than USA specific on the s10. A teardown will bring the answers. Hopefully ifixit pull it apart soon.