Apple has launched iOS 26 beta 7 and watchOS 26 beta 7 for developers, introducing a newly designed Blood Oxygen monitoring feature. This update comes after the feature’s announcement for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users in the U.S. The revamped Blood Oxygen function was first released with iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, signifying its return after an 18-month pause due to a patent conflict with health tech firm Masimo.
The Blood Oxygen functionality permits users to start a session through the Blood Oxygen app on their Apple Watch. The sensors on the watch collect the required data, which is processed by the iPhone to deliver blood oxygen levels. Results can be accessed in the Respiratory section of the Health app on the iPhone, although they cannot be viewed directly on the Apple Watch. Furthermore, the updated version enables background measurements, allowing the watch to gather data continuously and transmit it to the iPhone for assessment.
At present, the seventh beta versions of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 are available to developers, with a public beta anticipated to launch shortly. Users are invited to share any new discoveries from iOS 26 beta 7 in the comments.
