Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Nov 15, 2025
The series 11 Apple watch sits on display at the Apple Store in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2025. — Reuters
Two years after the US ban on Apple Watch, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has initiated a new investigation into whether imports of Apple's redesigned Apple Watches should be banned due to a patent dispute with Masimo.
The ITC will find out whether the updated Apple watches infringe on Masimo's patents related to blood-oxygen measurement technology, with the probe expected to be concluded within six months.
Dismissing Masimo's claims as baseless, Apple argues that the case is an attempt to hinder its smartwatch features, according to Reuters.
The ongoing dispute is part of a patent battle between the two companies, with Masimo, a medical technology company, accusing Apple of hiring its employees to gain access to proprietary pulse-oximetry innovations.
In 2023, imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches were banned by the ITC after patent infringement was discovered, after which Apple removed the blood-oxygen feature to comply, but reintroduced it in August with US Customs and Border Protection's approval.
Masimo has lodged a lawsuit against Customs for granting Apple approval, while the latter is appealing the ITC's import ban in federal court.
Masimo has also sued Apple in California for patent infringement and theft of trade secrets, with a jury ruling that Apple owes Masimo $634 million for patent infringement.
