iOS 26 beta 6 gets small build update, doesn’t bring back blood oxygen sensor

Apple released a small build update to iOS 26 developer beta 6, which does not re-enable the blood oxygen sensor on Apple Watch in spite of the earlier iOS 18.6.1 update that did.

Smartphone with a colorful gradient screen displaying the number 26, resting on a wooden surface beside a small, blue figurine.

iOS 26 beta 6 gets build update

Apple has found a way to bring back the blood oxygen sensor to the Apple Watch via software without violating Masimo patents or an import block. The update went out via iOS 18.6.1 on Thursday, but Apple did not include the change via the iOS 26 developer beta release.

The new iOS 26 developer beta is still beta 6, but it has a slightly new build number — 23A5318f up from 23A5318c. Apple didn’t share why it updated the build, and no notable changes have been discovered as of this publication.

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