watchOS 26 Public Beta Launches With Redesigned Blood Oxygen Feature

[MacRumors]

Apple today released the fourth public beta of watchOS 26, a day after the beta was made available to developers. This particular beta adds support for the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in the United States.

watchOS 26 public beta 4 can downloaded through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone after you sign up on Apple's beta website.

Blood oxygen sensing has been disabled on Apple's latest U.S. Apple Watch models since January 2024 due to a legal issue, but Apple was able to bring the feature back by tweaking how it works. Apple Watches that previously did not support blood oxygen sensing can once again take readings, but all calculations and results are viewable on the iPhone.

Apple previously reintroduced blood oxygen sensing for iOS 18 and watchOS 11 users, and it was made available for developers with watchOS 26 yesterday.

Apple Watch models sold before January 2024 and outside of the U.S. have always had a functional blood oxygen sensing feature and the original blood oxygen app. Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users will now need to open the Health app and go to the Respiratory section to view their blood oxygen results.

The watchOS 26 update brings additional features, such Workout Buddy, an Apple Intelligence feature meant to motivate you during your workouts. The Workout app interface has been redesigned, the Smart Stack has more actionable suggestions, the Messages app offer Live Translation and better Smart Replies, and the Phone app features like Call Screening and Hold Assist are available on the watch. Apple also brought the Notes app to the Apple Watch, so you can create notes and view existing notes right from your wrist.

watchOS 26 will launch to the public in the fall.

Article Link: watchOS 26 Public Beta Launches With Redesigned Blood Oxygen Feature

 

[cybercommand]

Here is an idea. If the blood oxygen calculations are now done on the phone, they should then automatically send that result back to the watch so you can see it on the watch face, then technically the watch is only showing you the result that the iPhone calculated.

 

[co.ag.2005]

so does O2 now show up in the vitals page on the apple watch? or will O2 still be missing from the vitals view on the watch but show up on the phone?

 

[alexandr]

so does O2 now show up in the vitals page on the apple watch? or will O2 still be missing from the vitals view on the watch but show up on the phone?

I don't see it there, but I don't sleep in my watch, so it only shows me which results may appear.

 

[GlassHollow]

so does O2 now show up in the vitals page on the apple watch? or will O2 still be missing from the vitals view on the watch but show up on the phone?

Vitals page.

 

[GlassHollow]

I’m sorry more information. It’s in the Health app and I have my pinned. Shows the exact number. That’s the only place you’re gonna find it for now, blood oxygen app on my phone still says it’s unavailable there. Having 11.6.1 on the watch. Running 18.6.1 on the phone.

 

[xraydoc]

I’m sorry more information. It’s in the Health app and I have my pinned. Shows the exact number. That’s the only place you’re gonna find it for now, blood oxygen app on my phone still says it’s unavailable there. Having 11.6.1 on the watch. Running 18.6.1 on the phone.

Run an ECG. Should get the Watch's Blood O2 app working again (though will still refer you to your phone to see the result).

 

[xraydoc]

I literally just updated my iPads to the Public Beta (since I was worried about losing work-specific profile and functions), but all seems to be working fine.

Haven't wanted to do my iPhone and Watch since they're mission critical devices, but since the iPads seem to be working so well on iPadOS26PB, I might take a gamble this time. Or just wait a month for the official release... Adult decisions are hard.

 

[stiligFox]

So, will this re-add the Blood O2 app to my Series 7? I lost it when I got a replacement from Apple under Apple Care.

EDIT: For anyone else wondering, yes - it brought back the Blood O2 app to my Series 7. Though like the new watches, I have to view the results on my iPhone.

 

[afreemanmd]

So, for those of us that had a functional on -watch o2 sat calculation and display, this is a downgrade in functionality. Why can’t apple selectively upgrade those devices which had the feature deactivated and leave the rest of us alone.

 

[BC2009]

So, for those of us that had a functional on -watch o2 sat calculation and display, this is a downgrade in functionality. Why can’t apple selectively upgrade those devices which had the feature deactivated and leave the rest of us alone.

they did just that. international apple watches and pre-ban US apple watches still have SpO2 on the watch itself.

apparently, Massimo’s patent claims were not as tight as they should have been since Apple found a work-around. not ideal, but enough to tide people over until 2028 maybe.

i recently replaced my series 7 that had a faltering battery and shoddy side button with a “like new” pre-ban refurbished series 9 from ebay to keep the SpO2 feature. the replacement watch clearly came in the Apple refurb packaging and had never been activated because I can still sign up for Apple Care as if it were a new device.

 

[MikeDr206]

Here is an idea. If the blood oxygen calculations are now done on the phone, they should then automatically send that result back to the watch so you can see it on the watch face, then technically the watch is only showing you the result that the iPhone calculated.

Depends if that would still result in patent infringement. I doubt Apple didn’t think of that, only for its attorneys to say no.

Then again, it is Apple… does some any amazing things but then there will be some other things where you’re thinking, “really Tim Apple? Did you think this was ok before giving me the the final go?”

 

[aggiesrwe03]

It’s definitely still not working on my Ultra 2 running iOS beta 7.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Yay. A feature that was panned for not working is back. Shaking a magic 8 ball is just as accurate.

 

[Big_D]

Yay. A feature that was panned for not working is back. Shaking a magic 8 ball is just as accurate.

I have a finger O2 sensor and I had an accident and in the ER on Monday they used a professional O2 sensor. Both show the same results as the phone - I've been using the O2 sensor on my Watch 10 since I got it last year and every time I have compared pulse and O2 with standalone devices, they gave the same results.

Was glad to see that the way the blood oxygen app works on my Watch hasn't changed - I was worried that they would use the same method for all regions, but it seems that the non-US Watches still work as they have always done.

 

[A-bomb151]

I used Blood Oxygen today for the very first time! Apple Watch Ultra 2 running watchOS26 b4 public.