Jury Rules Apple Must Pay $634 Million to Masimo in Wearable Tech Dispute
In a significant victory for Medical technology innovator Masimo Corporation, a federal jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California has ordered Apple to pay $634 million in damages for infringing on a key patent related to blood oxygen monitoring technology used in the Apple Watch. The verdict, delivered on Friday, November 14, underscores the ongoing tensions in the wearable tech sector over intellectual property rights.
Masimo, an Irvine, California-based company known for its patent-protected systems, hailed the decision a “significant win” in safeguarding its innovations. “We are pleased by this outcome, and appreciate the time and attention given to our case by the court and the jury,” the company stated in a press release. “This is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property, which is crucial to our ability to develop technology that benefits patients.” According to Newsweek’s 2025 rankings, Masimo’s SET pulse oximetry technology, introduced in 1995, is used on over 200 million patients annually and powers monitoring in all top 10 U.S. hospitals.
Apple-Masimo: Multi-front Battle
This ruling is just one chapter in a protracted multi-front battle that began in 2019 when Masimo accused Apple of poaching key employees, including its Chief Medical Officer, and stealing pulse oximetry secrets to bolster the Apple Watch’s health capabilities.
The feud escalated in the year 2023 when the US International Trade Commission ruled in Masimo’s favor, imposing an import ban on Apple Watch with blood oxygen features, such as the series 9 and Ultra 2 models. This forced Apple to disable the functionality in US-sold services. It was one such move that drew criticism from health advocates and prompted workarounds like software design approved by US Customs and Border Protection in August 2025.
Masimo has since sued Customs over that approval, alleging overreach, while Apple is appealing the ITC bank in federal court. There are certain other parallel cases, which include a 2023 mistrial in a Masimo-Apple trade-secret case due to a hung jury, and a minor $250 win for Apple in Delaware over Masimo’s alleged infringement of two Apple design patents.
What Legal Experts Say?
Legal experts view the $634 million award as a blow to Apple, potentially signalling stricter scrutiny on how Big Tech integrates medical-grade features into consumer products.
“This verdict validates Masimo’s long-standing claims and could encourage more licensing deals in the health tech space,” said patent attorney Elena Vasquez, who was not involved in the case.
For Masimo, the payout, which is equivalent to about 1.5% of Apple’s market cap, is a huge victory for the company. It bolsters its war chest for future defences, while Apple faces the prospect of enhanced royalties or feature redesign if appeals fail.
Will Apple Restore the Feature Amid Ongoing Legal Cloud?
The Apple Watch has sold over 200 million units since its 2015 debut. The Apple Watch relies heavily on health sensors for its appeal, tracking everything from heart rhythms to fall detection. Blood oxygen monitoring introduced in the Series 6 has been pivotal for use with conditions like sleep apnea or COVID-19 recovery. The ruling raises questions about whether Apple will restore the feature amid ongoing legal clouds.
As an Appeal looms, this case highlights the high stakes of innovation in wearables.
