If you live in the United States and are looking to purchase a smartwatch with the latest in health monitoring technology, you may want to pass on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2

Apple has removed the blood oxygen monitoring feature from both devices due to ongoing litigation issues with rival Masimo Worse, the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 3 could also be affected by the dispute

Fortunately, Apple is not the only brand to include this important wellness monitoring technology in its wrist wearables; Fitbit, Casio, Garmin, Polar, Samsung, and even Amazfit offer smartwatches with built-in pulse oximeters (SpO2) built-in smartwatches

As someone who writes about fitness technology and wearables for a living, these are the five blood oxygen monitoring smartwatches I would buy right now instead of the Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2

The importance of monitoring blood oxygen saturation levels using a SpO2 sensor became apparent during the global COVID-19 pandemic

When the lungs are unable to supply the body with sufficient oxygen, there is a risk of damage to other organs, which is obviously something no one wants A sudden drop in blood oxygen levels can also indicate other serious medical conditions or episodes Pulse oximeters are very useful because they are noninvasive and easy to use

The first alternative to the Apple Watch is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 In terms of functionality and features, Samsung's latest smartwatch is closest to the Series 9 and Ultra 2

Of course, it is best paired with a Samsung Galaxy device, or at least an Android smartphone That said, Google Play's watch app store rivals Apple's in terms of selection, including a huge variety of free apps

On the health front, the Galaxy Watch 6 offers skin temperature, ECG, heart rate, and SpO2 monitoring, although it lacks FDA approval in the US for its blood pressure monitoring technology It is also a capable workout, sleep, and menstrual tracking device

As of 2024, few wrist wearables will be able to match the smarts and health monitoring capabilities of Samsung's or Apple's latest smartwatches; the Google Pixel Watch 2 comes close However, SpO2 monitoring is not in situ; it is measured passively while the user sleeps

The next alternative to the Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2 is the Fitbit Sense 2 This premium smartwatch from Google, or Fitbit, is one of the best fitness tracking smartwatches on the market today

It tends to sell for $100 less than the Apple Watch 9 and comes in a similar rectangular form factor with a bright, responsive touchscreen Fitbit also boasts better battery life

Health monitoring technology is essentially identical between the Sense 2 and Apple's latest generation of smartwatches

Both models record physical activity, monitor stress levels and sleep quality, measure heart rate, track heart rhythm, and check skin temperature Of course, only Fitbit offers SpO2 measurement

Smart features are much less common on the Sense 2: aside from Google Maps, Google Wallet, and Alexa Voice control, there are no third-party apps

Nevertheless, the Sense 2 does support wrist calling and texting But if you want to browse Facebook or load Spotify from your wrist, there are smarter options, like the Galaxy Watch 6 mentioned above

The Garmin Venu 3 is another top-class smartwatch with a built-in SpO2 sensor Not only does it have excellent wellness monitoring technology, but it also has great workout, training, and recovery metrics

Like the Fitbit Sense 2 and the latest Apple Watch models, the Venu 3 has a bright, vibrant AMOLED touchscreen It also outperforms Apple in battery life and has a longer charging interval

The Venu 3 is a great choice for hardcore athletes who want to gain serious insight into their performance and progress However, it also offers a variety of useful features for the average athlete, such as built-in virtual sleep coach and nap tracking

Like Fitbit, smart features are somewhat scarce However, the pre-installed features are really useful You can take calls from your wrist, and there is voice support for Siri and Google Assistant

Additionally, the watch supports mobile payments and can store music offline, so you can leave your phone at homeThe Garmin Connect IQ store is not up to par in terms of apps, but it is much more than what Fitbit offers (or Polar below) There are more options

Like Garmin, the Polar Vantage V3 is a fitness-focused, high-tech watch with plenty of workout and wellness features It also boasts a rich, crisp AMOLED touchscreen, excellent battery life, and a plethora of physical buttons around the bezel

The Vantage V3 can monitor heart rate, ECG, SpO2, and skin temperature It can also monitor sleep quality, workout recovery, and daily movement

With over 150 profiles for physical activity, from snowboarding to disc golf, you don't have to be an Olympian to understand the V3's detailed post-workout maps, metrics, and insights Dual-band GPS and altimeter provide extremely accurate position and elevation data In addition, offline maps add versatility

However, there are no advanced smartwatch features other than wrist music control and phone notifications

The Casio G-Shock Move DW-H5600 may not look like a serious smart device But rest assured, this model, modeled after Casio's legendary "dumb" watch DW5600 that debuted in the 1980s, boasts an arsenal of wellness technology, including an SpO2 sensor

There is no touchscreen, only a monochrome LCD panel, and no third-party apps However, Casio has partnered with Polar on fitness and health As such, the G-Shock Move can track workouts

It also monitors heart rate, sleep quality, workout recovery, stress levels, and of course blood oxygen saturation; it has better battery life than the Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2, and is waterproof

Sure, this may not scratch your smartwatch itch, but if it's legitimate fitness features you're looking for, the G-Shock Move DW-H5600 is one of the best-looking smartwatches on the market today

The Amazfit Bip 5 and Withings ScanWatch 2 are also great choices if SpO2 measurement is your goal It is also possible that devices with SpO2 technology on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are available from third-party retailers, but that opportunity is rapidly disappearing

Ultimately, no one knows when and how Apple and Masimo will resolve their differences regarding ownership of the blood saturation technology in question Recent developments, however, do not paint a rosy picture of a showdown

That is, the feature is unlikely to return to existing Apple watches or be included on new Apple watches Get another brand of smartwatch instead