Does the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 include an Oxygen Sensor?

RazorV wrote:

I live at 9,000’ and Blood OX is very important to monitor. Hence Garmin watches monitor it very extensively!

One wonders how folks survived at this altitude before watches were capable of monitoring blood oxygen. Perhaps they all wore finger clip pulse oximeters.

Enjoy your Garmin watch.

The oximeter is extremely important for me who has a lung disease if I’m away from home and cannot readily check my blood oxygen I rely on my Apple Watch and my Apple Watch is always 100% accurate to the hospitals equipment. I would upgrade my watch if the watch 10 activate that sensor.

The add you saw could have been a mistake by a third party that manages the T-Mobile website or even an internal web team. Companies hire interns all the time and try to rectify the errors as quickly as possible.

I’m sorry the disappoint, but the disabling of the sensors is in direct response to a federal court order. Again, not the experience that was hoped for. I hope you have a great rest of your weekend.

Carol B. wrote:

I guess if all depends on your needs, Jeff. I need to monitor my SPO2 at night. This feature allows me to do that. It provides information I can share with my doctor. I do not find it irrelevant but I do understand it may be that for the majority of Apple Watch wearers.

The Apple Watch feature, when it was available, never monitored SPO2 continuously, it only measured it on demand. There are many devices that do monitor it continuously, such as the OuraRing that I have. And there are standalone medical quality devices that will both monitor and alarm, if you have a condition that can result in low blood oxygen.

Even the Watch ECG function is rather primitive; the Kardia series of monitors are much more useful in reporting arrhythmia, and can detect more abnormalities than just afib. I’ve had situations where my watch said “Normal Sinus Rhythm" but my Kardia reported other abnormalities even in “one lead” mode, and the newest model reports 6 leads, and provides an analysis of the results.

Jeff Donald wrote:

Pretty sure once you’re in the >Death Zone<, the Watch is just extra weight.

>In mountaineering, the death zone refers to altitudes above which the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span. This point is generally agreed as 8,000 m (26,000 ft).

I really hope that poster meant 9,000 feet!

But seriously. I used to do a lot of hiking in the 8,000-13,000 foot range. With asthma. Without an O2 sensor. Not dead yet.

Jeff Donald wrote:

I hope feet as well! But my reference was in regard to your mention of Tenzing Norgay, who with Sir Edmund Hillary were the first to climb Mt. Everest (29,028 ft).

Of course!

Not to sure how the Inca ever built Machu Picchu in the 1400’s without their Apple Watches. Maybe aliens actually built Machu Picchu. 😂

But did the aliens have Apple Watches?

jrp11 wrote:

Good question. I have compared readings to a finger sensor, as well as what I get from my doctor and the readings are always near identical.

So your doctor is taking readings while you're exercising? And/or you're wearing a finger sensor while working out? ;-)

Accurate under one set of conditions doesn't necessarily mean accurate under all conditions. But if your current watch works for you, there's no reason to upgrade.

For me, years ago when I was doing serious distance running and there were not Apple Watches, my pulmonologist recommended the Perceived Exertion Scale. I found it to be very helpful and it requires no gadgets. It does take a bit of learning, though.

zzmd wrote:

my thoughts on the Apple Watch O2 sensor it’s good for trending and on the spot measurements for oxygen saturation is very accurate compared to hospital grade oximeters . For apple to introduce a sleep apnea app after they are required to disable their O2 sensor on the watch is ridiculous.

Your thoughts are meaningless, because Apple cannot LEGALLY have an O2 sensor. Which has been explained many times in the 3 pages of the thread that you apparently didn’t read before you posted.

Not my thoughts are not meaningless. I stated sleep apnea app by Apple is ineffective if oxygen saturation cannot used . I also stated that they were required to disable it i.e. the lawsuit, so it is a parent. I understand there was a lawsuit. I just was befuddled by the fact that Apple would introduce a sleep apnea application after they were required to turn off oxygen saturation measurement.

zzmd wrote:

Not my thoughts are not meaningless. I stated sleep apnea app by Apple is ineffective if oxygen saturation cannot used . I also stated that they were required to disable it i.e. the lawsuit, so it is a parent. I understand there was a lawsuit. I just was befuddled by the fact that Apple would introduce a sleep apnea application after they were required to turn off oxygen saturation measurement.

I agree. Your thoughts are not meaningless. But keep in mind that O2 and sleep apnea are two different things. I went to a sleep clinic twice to be tested for sleep apnea (which I definitely have). Both times I was hooked up to a lot of sensors but they measured how many times I was awake and stopped breathing (respiration, not oxygen). Neither time, when I was given the results, was oxygen measured. It was not until quite a few years later that my lungs developed problems and they ordered different tests that measured my nightly O2 readings - while using my cpap. Those reading showed low O2 levels and the docs added O2 to my cpap. Currently, my Apple Watch 9 - which was purchased before the lawsuit and still offers oxygen readings - offers good info to me and to my docs. I use the Auto Sleep watch app. It works in conjunction with the watch's O2 readings. Together, they take O2 readings periodically throughout the night. The morning report shows a lot of detail, including respiration rates and average Sleep SpO2 for the night. It shows not only the range, but also the O2 high and low measurements. I bring my iPhone when I go to see my pulmonologist. He reviews the reports and makes any necessary adjustments to my oxygen accordingly. He says that in his experience, Apple has really stepped up with the accuracy of their oxygen reports.

As the others have said, it's a tool. But in my opinion and in the opinion of my doctor, the readings are accurate enough to use as good tools. Use the tool, but do not make it your only tool. That's what works for me. Your doctor would be the best person to go to with any additional questions.

Carol B. wrote:

But keep in mind that O2 and sleep apnea are two different things. I went to a sleep clinic twice to be tested for sleep apnea (which I definitely have). Both times I was hooked up to a lot of sensors but they measured how many times I was awake and stopped breathing (respiration, not oxygen). Neither time, when I was given the results, was oxygen measured.

Very interesting and helpful information.

zzmd wrote:

Not my thoughts are not meaningless. I stated sleep apnea app by Apple is ineffective if oxygen saturation cannot used . I also stated that they were required to disable it i.e. the lawsuit, so it is a parent. I understand there was a lawsuit. I just was befuddled by the fact that Apple would introduce a sleep apnea application after they were required to turn off oxygen saturation measurement.

I believe what as meant is that, as far as Apple is concerned, it doesn't matter what any of us think about the matter. As they always do, Apple did what they did for their own reasons. No one here can answer why they decided to add Sleep Apnea when they don't have an O2 sensor. I suspect that Carol B.'s excellent response may shed some light on it, however,

All Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States starting January 18, 2024 will not have the Blood Oxygen measure feature. These units are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A.

-Zachyy ✌️

Jeff Donald wrote:

You can buy an FDA approved model, and carry it in your pocket or purse, for under $20 on Amazon.

The one I have syncs to Health quite nicely.