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Blood oxygen doesn't work for public beta users, why not?

I bought a series 6 Watch and I can't use it.
 
Blood oxygen doesn't work for public beta users, why not?

I bought a series 6 Watch and I can't use it.
It will return in the next beta release. In the future, don’t install beta on your watch if you don’t like not having features that the standard release has. The beta can cause trouble at times and you can’t downgrade on your own.
 
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And here I am in the stone ages not understanding why I'd want the time on my wrist. It's on every other device I own, the last thing I want to be reminded of when Im not looking for it- the time.
 
if you are a beta tester then you can't use the blood oxygen on your watch and have it record to your health app.
 
It will return in the next beta release. In the future, don’t install beta on your watch if you don’t like not having features that the standard release has. The beta can cause trouble at times and you can’t downgrade on your own.

I have the 6 and it's on the watch but I am a beta tester on the phone and it does not work.
 
I like the feature because it's cool to be able to assess parts of your health any time, but in reality, you are notably symptomatic and feel like crap well before your oxygenation falls below adequate levels. Literature varies, but generally 94-100 is normal, but most people while otherwise healthy will be 97-100. If you are normally 99/100 at rest while awake and your oxygen is around 93/94 you've probably already realized there's a problem. The body compensates in many ways including labored respirations and will keep a health person at very normal levels of oxygen for quite some time even well into a disease process. My only point for this TLDR is that I don't feel this will help in identifying problems early since low oxygen happens later, even though I am happy for the addition of the feature. Also I feel like this is going to scare some people. Humans have never had constant monitoring of their vitals in every day life so I am willing to bet even the healthiest of people might intermittently drop to "unsafe" levels (unsafe only if persistant for a period of time), but that's just my personal opinion. People also said this would happen for the EKG and it didn't, but I wonder if this will be different. - Not a doctor
 
This feature literally doesn't work for me at all no matter what I do. Good thing I'm still in the return window. I'll stick with my 4 another year. Hopefully it'll be medically reliable for series 7.
 
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Totally off topic (sorry) but I am interested to know how to create the watch face in step 1.
I presume it is based on the Infograph face but all the variants of that face that I have are way too colourful. The complications in colour make the face too busy. What I like about in the 'step 1' image is that all the complications are in white. Anyone know how I can achieve that please?
 
Lol - if it isn’t for medical use, then what is it for?

A lot of people have benefitted from the other notifications and then seeking treatment. It is strange that they aren’t going to send notifications for this also.

It has to do with regulations, I'm guessing they'll be cleared in future watches with enough data.
 
I just got mine, made a video on it, feature is just about useless.
My arm is about the same as yours as far as hair goes, and my 6 works fine for the oxy level. I do notice the watch needs to be fairly tight against your skin to measure correctly. Try putting your hand under your wrist, then grab both sides of the band and pull down slightly to make the watch press closely to your skin and see if that works.
 
It is so unreliable, based on my experience, and that of others, that it is simply laughable. I have a fingertip blood oximeter, and I compared readings from the two. My watch gave readings of 91-93% at one point when I tried multiple readings, and my pulse oximeter was 97-98%. The technology simply isn't there; Apple adding something like this doesn't make sense.

Plus, blood oxygen is not, as they say, "a key indicator of your overall wellness." For most people, blood oxygen level is never an issue. There are certainly people with certain diseases who need to keep on top of this, and, for them, the watch is useless. They only area where it has some interest is if you are at altitude, but given how unreliable it is, I'm not sure I'd trust it.
 
I have the Masimo mightysat oximeter and this Apple Watch is incredible near to that precise medical product. If you use correctly the Apple Watch (to check you wear it correctly and don't move during the reading) it can be an awesome way to keep you informed about oxygen in the blood.
 
As other users have said... the blood-oxygen feature (as it is now) is completely useless; I have readings bouncing between 89% and 99% within minutes of each other, and background readings constantly coming in far too low (92-94%). Comparison with an actual fingertip pulse-oximeter showed a steady 99% over the same period. (Oh, and expect a lot of "Unsuccessful measurement" messages when triggering it manually - they are not kidding when they say it is sensitive/picky about what constitutes a stable position for taking a reading).

Now, everything else about the watch is excellent (the graphite stainless steel is a classy look, and the always-on screen is fantastic - I'm coming from a Series 4 aluminium/sport model, so these are really nice upgrades), but this blood-oxygen feature is clearly so half-baked that it should never have shipped. The readings are so far away from reality that I have simply turned it off, rather than accumulate thousands of trash readings in my medical history in the Health app (any doctor looking at the readings - which I'm about to delete - currently stored in my Health app would rightly be concerned). Since you cannot trust it, you cannot act on it. And if it isn't supplying actionable information, then what's the point?

Maybe it will improve over time with some software/algorithm updates, or a future generation of the watch will have improved hardware to make it more reliable and accurate, but for now I honestly think you should just disable it and enjoy the watch for the other features.
 
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As other users have said... the blood-oxygen feature (as it is now) is completely useless; I have readings bouncing between 89% and 99% within minutes of each other, and background readings constantly coming in far too low (92-94%). Comparison with an actual fingertip pulse-oximeter showed a steady 99% over the same period. (Oh, and expect a lot of "Unsuccessful measurement" messages when triggering it manually - they are not kidding when they say it is sensitive/picky about what constitutes a stable position for taking a reading).

Now, everything else about the watch is excellent (the graphite stainless steel is a classy look, and the always-on screen is fantastic - I'm coming from a Series 4 aluminium/sport model, so these are really nice upgrades), but this blood-oxygen feature is clearly so half-baked that it should never have shipped. The readings are so far away from reality that I have simply turned it off, rather than accumulate thousands of trash readings in my medical history in the Health app (any doctor looking at the readings - which I'm about to delete - currently stored in my Health app would rightly be concerned). Since you cannot trust it, you cannot act on it. And if it isn't supplying actionable information, then what's the point?

Maybe it will improve over time with some software/algorithm updates, or a future generation of the watch will have improved hardware to make it more reliable and accurate, but for now I honestly think you should just disable it and enjoy the watch for the other features.
Here my test on video . Its really accurate. I tested with Masimo MightySat, that is considered the best in the market. Finding out by yourself
 
Claiming medical use requires FDA testing and approval. An involved process that would have meant the feature wouldn't have been ready for AW6.

Dave2D had the same complaint: inaccurate reading. He suggested removing the watch from the wrist and taking the measurement against a finger. Supposedly increased his accuracy.
You have to check the accuracy with a Masimo MightySat and not with a oximeter of 20 dollars. On more you have to pay attention to live on the Apple Watch correctly and to don’t move during the measurement. Its very accurate. I found differences also between Masimo oximeter (professional product) and the oximeter of 20 dollars. So it would happen also between the Apple Watch and the oximeter of 20 dollars. Check it out by yourself
 
A purported use for it is endurance training. Recovery time of oxygen saturation can be used to work out exercise schedules, particular training at altitude.

Given clip on finger pulse oximeters that are likely more accurate and well built celebrated ones can be bought for ~ $20 I'm not sure if anyone would buy the Apple Watch for this though.
No they aren’t. If you want accuracy is better the Apple Watch or a professional product like Masimo MightySat or the Noonin
 
I have an SpO2 of 91-95% at all times, (as measured by fingertip and wrist mounted sensors, including hospital SpO2 meters). I can find no credible information about what this low level means, what causes it, or what to do about it from either internet searches or discussions with my doctor. So I'm not sure what anyone else will do with the information.......
Talk with doctor for sure. If you don’t move during the measurement , and you wear correctly the Apple Watch then it is very accurate
 
I would suggest NOT using it right now. I get readings that bounce from 86% to 100% back to back while my clip on finger sensor is sitting steady at 97-98. There's just no reason to trust any reading you get from the watch at this point. maybe it will get better in the future, but I feel bad for GP's getting calls about their O2 levels being low from this watch.
I use it correctly and it is incredible precise
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Can someone try holding their breath for a minute and then see if the measurement changes?
Yes it is
 
It is so unreliable, based on my experience, and that of others, that it is simply laughable. I have a fingertip blood oximeter, and I compared readings from the two. My watch gave readings of 91-93% at one point when I tried multiple readings, and my pulse oximeter was 97-98%. The technology simply isn't there; Apple adding something like this doesn't make sense.

Plus, blood oxygen is not, as they say, "a key indicator of your overall wellness." For most people, blood oxygen level is never an issue. There are certainly people with certain diseases who need to keep on top of this, and, for them, the watch is useless. They only area where it has some interest is if you are at altitude, but given how unreliable it is, I'm not sure I'd trust it.
Look it
 
As other users have said... the blood-oxygen feature (as it is now) is completely useless; I have readings bouncing between 89% and 99% within minutes of each other, and background readings constantly coming in far too low (92-94%). Comparison with an actual fingertip pulse-oximeter showed a steady 99% over the same period. (Oh, and expect a lot of "Unsuccessful measurement" messages when triggering it manually - they are not kidding when they say it is sensitive/picky about what constitutes a stable position for taking a reading).

Now, everything else about the watch is excellent (the graphite stainless steel is a classy look, and the always-on screen is fantastic - I'm coming from a Series 4 aluminium/sport model, so these are really nice upgrades), but this blood-oxygen feature is clearly so half-baked that it should never have shipped. The readings are so far away from reality that I have simply turned it off, rather than accumulate thousands of trash readings in my medical history in the Health app (any doctor looking at the readings - which I'm about to delete - currently stored in my Health app would rightly be concerned). Since you cannot trust it, you cannot act on it. And if it isn't supplying actionable information, then what's the point?

Maybe it will improve over time with some software/algorithm updates, or a future generation of the watch will have improved hardware to make it more reliable and accurate, but for now I honestly think you should just disable it and enjoy the watch for the other features.

Funny how people who use it correctly have no issues. As described in the article you are commenting on.
 
Blood oxygen doesn't work for public beta users, why not?

I bought a series 6 Watch and I can't use it.

It's a beta.
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Lol - if it isn’t for medical use, then what is it for?

A lot of people have benefitted from the other notifications and then seeking treatment. It is strange that they aren’t going to send notifications for this also.

Read the article you are commenting on.
 
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