On Friday, November 14, 2025, a federal jury in California ordered Apple to pay Masimo $634 million for infringing a key patent covering blood-oxygen monitoring technology used in Apple Watch devices.
The jury found that Apple Watch workout mode and heart rate notification features violated Masimo's patent rights, according to a statement from Masimo.
Apple has publicly disagreed with the verdict and announced plans to appeal, while Masimo described the ruling as a significant win in its ongoing efforts to protect its innovations.
This case is one front in a broader dispute that began when Masimo accused Apple of hiring away its employees and using stolen pulse oximetry technology in smartwatches.
In 2023, a U.S. trade tribunal blocked imports of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models after finding patent infringement, prompting Apple to remove blood-oxygen monitoring features and later reintroduce updated technology in August 2025 with U.S. Customs approval.
The U.S. International Trade Commission also decided on November 14 to launch a new proceeding to determine if the updated watches should face the import ban.
Masimo has filed a separate lawsuit against U.S. Customs over its approval process, and Apple is challenging the import ban at a federal appeals court.
Previous legal battles include a 2023 mistrial in Masimo's trade-secret suit against Apple and a minimal $250 verdict for Apple in Delaware last year, highlighting the multifaceted nature of this ongoing patent fight.
With appeals and new proceedings on the horizon, this ruling intensifies the stakes for smartwatch innovation and patent protection in 2025.
Reference(s):
U.S. jury says Apple must pay Masimo $634m in smartwatch patent case
cgtn.com
