The potential new feature was discovered in snippets of code from the next update to Apple’s operating system, iOS 14, as viewed by Apple-focused news outlet 9to5Mac. The code reportedly shows a new health notification that would alert Apple Watch wearers whose blood oxygen levels have been below a certain threshold for an extended period of time.
Though it is unclear whether the new feature would require a total hardware upgrade or just a software update, 9to5Mac reports that existing Apple Watches are believed to already have the capability to measure blood oxygen levels. This capability is likely available through the wearable’s built-in heart rate monitor, which currently sends alerts upon detecting both above- and below-average heart rates.
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