Apple Halts Sales of Smartwatches Featuring Blood Oxygen Monitoring Amid Patent Dispute with Masimo

In a significant development impacting two key players in the technology and health monitoring industries, Apple Inc. AAPL has been compelled to cease the sale of its latest smartwatch models equipped with blood oxygen measurement functionality in the United States. This move comes as a result of a continuing patent infringement lawsuit instigated by Masimo Corporation MASI, a global leader in non-invasive monitoring technologies with headquarters in Irvine, California. Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches, which boast the contentious blood oxygen feature, are the models directly affected by the legal decision.

Impact on Apple's Smartwatch Offerings

The suspension of sales marks a substantial legal setback for AAPL, a company widely recognized as a dominant force in the tech industry. Apple, which holds the title of the world's largest technology company by revenue and is heralded as the world's most valuable company since January 2021, now faces a significant barrier in marketing its state-of-the-art smartwatches. As of 2021, aside from its controversies in the wearable tech domain, Apple is also known as the fourth-largest PC vendor by unit sales and smartphone manufacturer globally. It is part of the Big Five American information technology giants, which includes other major players such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.

Masimo's Allegations and Market Influence

In contrast, MASI is renowned for its innovative approach in developing, manufacturing, and marketing non-invasive monitoring technologies and hospital automation solutions on an international scale. The patent infringement allegations by Masimo against Apple represent the company's defense of its technological innovations and intellectual property in a highly competitive market. Despite being smaller in scale compared to the tech behemoth, Masimo's influence in the medical tech market is not to be underestimated, especially in light of their readiness to protect their legal rights through the patent system.

Apple, Masimo, Patent