If you are a fan of the Apple watch, you may have noticed that one of the features that was announced with much fanfare last year, the Watch Blood Oxygen app, is no longer available on the latest models. What happened to this app that promised to measure your blood oxygen level and alert you to potential health issues?

The official answer from Apple is that the app was removed due to “technical limitations” and that they are working on a solution to bring it back in the future. However, some experts and users have speculated that there may be other reasons behind this decision.

One possible reason is that the app was not very accurate or reliable. Several tests and reviews have shown that the app often gave inconsistent or erroneous readings, especially when compared to other devices that measure blood oxygen level. Some users also reported that the app failed to work at all or gave them false alarms.

Another possible reason is that the app was not approved by the FDA or other regulatory agencies. Although Apple claimed that the app was not intended for medical purposes, some users may have relied on it for diagnosing or monitoring their health conditions, such as COVID-19, asthma, or sleep apnea. This could expose Apple to legal risks or liabilities if the app caused harm or misled users.

A third possible reason is that the app was not profitable or popular enough for Apple. The app was only available on the Apple Watch Series 6, which had a higher price tag than other models. It also required users to wear the watch snugly on their wrist and keep their arm still for 15 seconds to get a reading. These factors may have deterred some potential buyers or users from using the app.

Whatever the reason, it seems that Apple has decided to remove the Watch Blood Oxygen app from its current lineup of watches, at least for now. Whether they will bring it back in the future remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you are looking for a way to measure your blood oxygen level, you may want to consider other options, such as a pulse oximeter or a smart ring.