Wear OS Watches Might Soon Have an Edge in Blood Oxygen Monitoring

In a significant development for the wearable tech industry, Masimo, a leading medical device maker, has struck new deals with Google and Qualcomm to bring its cutting-edge biosensing technology to Wear OS smartwatches. While this may seem like a niche development in the tech world, it carries substantial weight when you realize Masimo is the company responsible for the ban on blood oxygen features in Apple Watch Series 10 in the US. Now, Masimo is poised to bring the same game-changing technology to Apple’s smartwatch competitors.

From the outside, it seems like Masimo, which has been embroiled in a patent battle with Apple over blood oxygen technology, is setting the standard for how this tech will be used in the wearables market—this time, alongside Google and Qualcomm. This could spell a new era for smartwatches powered by Wear OS, potentially giving them a critical edge over the Apple Watch when it comes to health and fitness features.

The Apple Watch Ban: What’s Happening?

For those unaware, the latest Apple Watch models sold in the US lack blood oxygen monitoring capabilities, largely due to an ongoing patent dispute between Apple and Masimo. At the center of this battle is Masimo’s technology for measuring blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), a critical feature in modern health tracking devices. While Apple continues to resist licensing Masimo’s technology, the dispute could persist until the patent expires in 2028. Until then, Apple Watches in the US will remain without this much-desired feature.

Masimo’s Freedom smartwatch, powered by Wear OS, could rival Apple Watch in blood oxygen monitoring.

Masimo’s Partnership with Google and Qualcomm

Amid the dispute, Masimo is making moves to integrate its medical-grade technology into Qualcomm’s smartwatch chips and the Wear OS platform through a new reference platform. This partnership could revolutionize the accuracy and reliability of blood oxygen monitoring in Wear OS smartwatches, giving users access to continuous, real-time SpO2 readings, sleep apnea analysis, hydration tracking, and more.

“We see it as a way of giving people continuous, accurate monitoring so they don’t have to try to maybe rip us off,” said Masimo CEO Joe Kiani during a call with The Verge. According to Kiani, Masimo’s focus is on ensuring accuracy across the wearables market and providing real, scientifically-based health insights, particularly for conditions like sleep apnea and chronic illness monitoring.

Kiani also highlighted that Masimo’s tech has received FDA clearance, which means its accuracy claims have been rigorously tested and verified. This is not something most consumer-grade blood oxygen sensors can claim, as they are largely marketed as wellness features without medical-grade precision.

The Future of Wear OS Health Features

The implications of this partnership could be far-reaching. While consumer-grade blood oxygen monitoring is currently limited to spot checks or basic overnight readings, Masimo’s tech promises to take things a step further with continuous monitoring that could provide useful data for both everyday health tracking and medical diagnosis. This has the potential to greatly benefit patients with chronic illnesses by allowing them to be monitored remotely by healthcare providers.

Moreover, Masimo will help Wear OS device manufacturers navigate the complex FDA regulatory process, ensuring that their health-tracking features meet rigorous standards. This could accelerate the adoption of accurate SpO2 monitoring in the wearables market, bringing medical-grade technology to a broader audience.

A Major Win for Wear OS

While Apple remains firm in not licensing Masimo’s technology, the partnership with Google and Qualcomm puts Wear OS smartwatches in a strong position to become leaders in the health and fitness space. As more Wear OS devices incorporate Masimo’s tech, they could easily surpass Apple Watch in terms of blood oxygen accuracy and other advanced health monitoring features.

Masimo’s own Wear OS smartwatch, the Freedom, was showcased earlier this year at CES. With Masimo’s proven medical expertise and Google’s software ecosystem, the Freedom smartwatch has the potential to be a game-changer in the wearables market. Although Kiani has yet to confirm any specific partners for this new venture, he hinted that we could expect more announcements in the near future.

Conclusion: The Health Tech Race Heats Up

The partnership between Masimo, Google, and Qualcomm is a significant development in the ongoing battle for dominance in the wearables market. With Apple Watches in the US currently lacking blood oxygen monitoring, Wear OS smartwatches have a prime opportunity to outshine Apple’s offerings by integrating Masimo’s medically-verified technology. As this partnership evolves, it could mark a turning point for wearables, transforming them from wellness gadgets into serious health monitoring devices.

Masimo’s quest for accuracy, paired with Google and Qualcomm’s tech capabilities, may just give Wear OS watches the edge they need to compete head-on with the Apple Watch—and win.