Masimo, the company that sued
Apple
for
patent infringement
, is coming up with its smartwatch with a
blood oxygen monitoring
feature. The same function was removed from the Apple Watches – the
Series 9
and
Ultra 2
models – after
Masimo
's legal action.
Masimo, known for its medical technologies, is not very prevalent among consumers, but it is its legal dispute with Apple that has gotten into the headlines.
The Freedom was previewed by The Verge at CES 2024. The device has a round display, a navigation touch bar on the right, and a small object-selection button. It lacks Apple's Digital Crown and the rotating bezel.
The president of Masimo's consumer health division, Eugene Goldberg, told The Verge that the aim behind the development of the Freedom smartwatch is to demonstrate the accuracy of the company's health-monitoring technology. Goldberg explained that Masimo's blood oxygen monitoring technology is more precise than its competitors since it considers various factors like motion, low perfusion, skin pigmentation, and poor blood flow.
Currently, the pulse oximetry feature is not available on
Apple Watch
Series 9 and
Watch
Ultra 2 being sold in the US, but it is available on the watches sold before the ITC’s ban took effect. Apart from the SpO2, the Freedom watch can track hydration, respiration, pulse rate, and steps. It can also detect if the user falls over and comes with standard activity and sleep tracking features. So, it has most features one could find on an Apple Watch or any other smartwatch for that matter.
Apple has tried to block Masimo's Freedom watch launch while fighting to prevent an import ban on its flagship models. According to reports, Apple has claimed that Masimo started the legal battle over its smartwatch which it deemed as a “knockoff.”
In its opposition filed on January 3, Apple stated that Masimo's Freedom product is aimed directly at the customers of Apple. This was in response to Masimo's request to pause a case that Apple had filed against them in October 2022 in the US District Court for the District of Delaware."
The
iPhone
maker filed two patent infringement lawsuits against Masimo in the Delaware federal court. One of the lawsuits is related to design patents, while the other is related to utility patents. Masimo has denied the allegations and has counterclaimed against Apple for antitrust violations, false advertising, and patent infringement by the Apple Watch. The utility patents case is on hold because it involves five patents that Masimo also asserted in its ITC case.
Apple argues that Masimo's request to pause the lawsuit should be denied. In an August 2022 earnings call, Masimo's CEO stated that the Freedom "should command 100% market share." Apple believes that delaying the resolution of its infringement claims would allow Masimo to gain customers and build brand awareness on the back of Apple's patented technology.
Masimo's CEO, Kiani, opposed Apple's emergency motion to stay enforcement of the ITC's import ban. The legal fight is primarily centred on pulse-oximetry technology, and the dispute has cost Masimo $100 million. Kiani stated that Apple had made false claims that Masimo had copied Apple’s technology. He also added that Masimo would never copy Apple’s poorly performing product or release such a product to the public.
“Apple—even though they took my people, they took our property, they took our patents—their product is horrible,” said Joe Kiani. He further went on to mention that he doesn’t want to work with Apple at this point, but “it may be better for everybody if we could help them improve their product.”
The Freedom Watch costs $999, which is $200 more than the most expensive Apple Watch, which is Ultra 2 and is priced at $799. So, if you want a smartwatch on your wrist that can measure your blood oxygen saturation, then you can reserve the Freedom watch for $100. It will be available under a limited-market release program during this quarter. The company plans to make the smartwatch available for purchase in the first half of 2024.
English (US) ·