Apple illegally cloned a smaller company's patented SpO2 sensor [1], which resulted in a US ban on Apple using the cloned SpO2 sensors. As of 2024 new Apple Watches in the US can't detect blood oxygen levels due to the ban.
Google didn't clone anything, and instead acquired a smaller company (Fitbit) that had the tech they wanted to put in their watches. So new Pixel Watches still have a working SpO2 sensor.
This isn’t quite accurate. Google/Fitbit just weren’t a big target compared to Apple. After the Apple-Watch ban, Google signed a deal with Masimo.
Also, while it’s suspicious circumstances, we don’t know Apple stole the tech. The lawsuits are still ongoing (after mis-trialing) but Apple lost the appeal to sell the products during the trial. To make it even messier, courts (with a jury) have found that Masimo copied Apple about some design aspects. This is probably one of the messiest corporate litigations in a long time - Apple isn't known for making deals.
Google didn't clone anything, and instead acquired a smaller company (Fitbit) that had the tech they wanted to put in their watches. So new Pixel Watches still have a working SpO2 sensor.
1: https://www.npr.org/2024/01/18/1225432506/apple-watch-blood-...