Not really, Sp02 varies quite a lot due to things like exercise, alcohol consumption, altitude, sleeping and sleep phase. One SHOULD be normally close to 100%, MOST of the time, but not ALL the time.
Actually I bought my S9 at a NY Target on 3/27/24, and activated it / paired it with a US Verizon iPhone, and I have the O2 sensor active. From my reading back then, and as someone else said here, the LW/A being present in the model # disables the O2 sensor in software. If no LW/A present in the model #, then the O2 sensor works.
👍. Y’all cannot setup a non American Apple Watch with cellular if you want blood oxygen. It may be disappointing if y’all want stainless steel or the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 with this feature, and use cellular. It will remain a GPS only and Wi-Fi /bluetooth only brick 🧱 until then.
Of course, even second hand Apple Watch Ultra 2 and series 9s that are from launch day until new years still have blood oxygen. You can also find listings of earlier stock offerings for new Apple Watch series 9 and natural titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in third party retailers like Walmart, which may go on sale soon.
Please identify the "software" that monitors possible sleep apnea.
Apple said they expect FDA clearance (for sleep apnea) later this month, it'll be part of a watchOS update ...
I am a DVT/PE patient who survived three saddle pulmonary emboli (quite often fatal) that went to my lungs.Good check on lung and heart functioning — during exercise, regular activities, and for general health.
As we age, those become even more important. In an era of resurgent COVID, oxygen levels are useful. Blood oxygen monitoring is also key to sleep apnea detection which affects people of all ages.
The Watch via the iPhone also provides a VO2 Max measure which gives feedback on your cardio fitness — and whether you are pushing yourself sufficiently while exercising.
In fact, medical researchers have confirmed that it is quite accurate. The problem from my reading of the research is that it slightly under-states oxygen levels at high levels (mid-to-upper 90s) while overstating it at lower levels (high 80s and low 90s). That is the exact opposite of what one would want, but it still provides a relatively close and fairly useful gauge.
See, e.g.,
“Accuracy of the Apple Watch Oxygen Saturation Measurement in Adults: A Systematic Review”
Accuracy of the Apple Watch Oxygen Saturation Measurement in Adults: A Systematic Review - PMC
The purpose of this review is to summarize the research on the accuracy of oxygen saturation (spO2) measurements using the Apple Watch (Apple Inc., Cupertino, California). The Medline and Google Scholar databases were searched for papers evaluating ...www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
“Study finds Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor is as reliable as ‘medical-grade device’”
How reliable is the Apple Watch's blood oxygen sensor?
A new validation study published this month puts the blood oxygen feature of the Apple Watch to the test. According...9to5mac.com
What’s this based on? The Canadian/Mexican model are the same as the US. Cellular should work.
Apologies I forgot that latest Apple Watch Series 8 and later have cellular models specifically for Northern America, not just the United States. That also includes S9 and S10.
This is what I'd like clarity on. If I get a Series 10 (GPS) from Canada, but activate it in the US, with a US phone/Apple account, with blood oxygen work? Are there any other downsides from getting a watch from another country and activating it in the US?
disregard. I misunderstood the post
That is what is clearly stated in the fine print. If you got an early model S9 or used a foreign Apple Watch series 9 or 10 from a country that supports blood oxygen, then a software update, the region settings or an American based Apple ID will not affect the feature.
Not to mention the unknowns of getting warranty or applecare service in the US on a model purchased elsewhere. Anyone have direct experience getting service on a CA or MX model in the US?
