With iOS 26.4, Apple expands the Health app with an additional sleep metric and redesigns the display of vital data. Two key changes are the new "Average Sleep Time" metric in the "Sleep" section and the return of blood oxygen levels to the central line graph of the vital overview.
Health data is most useful when it can be tracked over time. This is precisely where iOS 26.4 comes in. While previous versions primarily emphasized sleep duration, Apple has now added another perspective: the time of bedtime.
In parallel, the display of blood oxygen values is being adjusted. After limitations in previous versions, these values are now being reintegrated into the daily vital data graph. The reason for this change lies in an ongoing legal dispute that has significantly affected the functionality of the Apple Watch in the US.
New metric in the sleep sector: "Average sleep time"
In iOS 26.4, the "Average Sleep Time" metric is introduced in the "Sleep" section of the Health app. The goal is to better understand how bedtime affects sleep quality. Two values are displayed under a new sleep highlight:
- The actual time at which people went to bed
- The usual bedtime, calculated as an average over a period of two weeks
This two-week calculation ensures that individual outliers have less of an impact. Instead of a short-term view, a more stable picture of the sleep routine emerges.
The average sleep duration of the last seven days was already displayed in iOS 26.3. This feature remains. New is the additional daily display of bedtime. With this, Apple continues to combine average sleep duration with a more detailed analysis of bedtime routines. This enhancement complements the existing sleep analysis without replacing any previous features.
Blood oxygen levels are again shown in the vital data graph
In addition to the changes in the sleep section, iOS 26.4 adjusts the display of vital signs in the Health app. In the US, blood oxygen levels are now again shown in the daily line graph overview.
In iOS 26.3 and earlier versions of iOS 26, blood oxygen was present as a separate section, but not part of the central graphical overview. The line graph did not include a blood oxygen measurement, even though the metric was available separately in the "Vitals" section.
With iOS 26.4, blood oxygen levels are once again integrated into the "Vitals" overview. This means the values appear together with other vital data in a cohesive graphical display.
Background: Legal dispute over blood oxygen measurement
The limitations on blood oxygen display are related to a legal dispute between Apple and the medical technology company Masimo. Masimo accused Apple of infringing patents related to blood oxygen measurement.
As a result of this conflict, Masimo obtained an import ban from the US International Trade Commission. In order to continue selling the Apple Watch in the US, Apple had to remove blood oxygen measurement from the Apple Watch starting in early 2024.
In August 2025, the feature was added again, albeit with limitations: Blood oxygen levels can now be displayed on the iPhone. However, in the US, it is still not possible to measure blood oxygen levels with the Apple Watch and view the results directly on the wrist.
iOS 26.4 thus improves at least the display of existing data within the iPhone Health app, even though direct display on the Apple Watch is still not available in the USA.
iOS 26.4 enhances data analysis in the Health app
iOS 26.4 brings targeted enhancements to the health area. The introduction of "Average Sleep Time" complements the existing sleep analysis with a long-term view of bedtime patterns. At the same time, blood oxygen levels are reintegrated into the central vital signs graph.
The update doesn't change any hardware, but it improves the analysis and display of existing health data. iOS 26.4 thus enhances transparency within the Health app and provides a more complete overview of available vital signs. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / sdx15)
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