Apple Halts Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US Due to ITC Patent Dispute. In a significant development for Apple, sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have been halted in the United States. This decision comes in response to an import ban issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) related to a patent dispute over blood oxygen monitoring technology.
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Apple’s online store in the U.S. now lists the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 as “currently unavailable,” and the company has also removed refurbished models of the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 from its website. This move is a direct result of the ITC’s ruling, which found that the blood oxygen sensor in the Apple Watch infringes on patents held by medical device company Masimo.
Although these two models are still available in Apple’s retail stores, the company plans to cease their sales there too after December 24. The ban is specific to the United States and only affects Apple’s direct sales channels. Third-party retailers may continue to sell the Apple Watch models until their existing stock is depleted. The Apple Watch SE, which lacks a blood oxygen sensor, is not impacted by this ban and will continue to be available.
The situation could change if the White House chooses to veto the import ban, but the deadline for such a decision is December 25. If the ban remains in place, Apple will be unable to sell the affected Apple Watch models until the disputed technology is removed or an agreement is reached with Masimo.
Apple is preparing to appeal the decision starting December 26 and is exploring several legal and technical solutions to resume sales. The company is considering a software update as a potential fix, with engineers working on modifying how oxygen saturation is measured and reported to users.
The implications of the ban extend to Apple Watch repairs in the U.S. After December 25, Apple will no longer be able to offer out-of-warranty replacements for models with a blood oxygen sensor. This includes the Apple Watch Series 6, later models, and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. While software-based repairs will continue, customers needing hardware replacements will have to wait until the issue is resolved.
In summary, this development marks a challenging period for Apple as it navigates the legal complexities and works towards a solution to resume sales and provide complete service for its Apple Watch models in the United States.
