The decision to pause sales of the newest Apple Watch models is due to a disagreement about the technology used to measure blood oxygen levels. This sales pause will begin partially on December 21.
Apple is discontinuing the sale of two smartwatch models in the United States—the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9. If you’re looking to buy one before the holidays, you’ll need to move quickly. Here’s the essential information you need to know.
Apple is discontinuing the sale of two smartwatch models, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9, in the United States. This decision is linked to what Apple calls an agency order and ongoing legal issues with a medical technology company named Masimo. The dispute revolves around the blood oxygen sensor technology in the Apple Watch, and as of now, Apple has faced a setback in the legal battle. This marks the first instance of Apple removing these specific watches from the market.
Beginning at 3 pm Eastern on December 21, Apple will stop selling the affected watches on Apple.com. In Apple stores, these watches won’t be available after December 24. However, it’s important to note that the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) ban only impacts Apple, so these watches can still be purchased from other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Additionally, the ban specifically relates to importing the watches into the United States, so they will continue to be available in other countries.
The temporary stop in sales is due to a significant disagreement with a medical tech company named Masimo. In 2021, Masimo filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that Apple violated one of its patents related to blood oxygen measurement using light. The court sided with Masimo, and the International Trade Commission (ITC) confirmed this decision in October. Now, there’s a 60-day review period that concludes on December 25, and Apple is taking precautions.
To bring their smartwatches back to the market, Apple has a couple of options. They can challenge the decision in a court appeal or negotiate with Masimo by disabling the blood-oxygen sensing features. More details about the future of the Watch 9 and Ultra 2 will be clearer after December 25.
It’s uncommon for a company to halt another’s smartwatch sales by claiming they copied their ideas. In 2016, Fitbit tried to do this to Jawbone, but it failed because Jawbone didn’t sell many fitness trackers. Now, a similar situation is happening to Apple, a major company known for having the most popular watches globally. This is a rare occurrence.
The decision doesn’t impact the Watch SE since it lacks blood-tracking sensors. The Watch SE, known for being a more budget-friendly option, remains our top choice for the best Apple Watch. The ban also doesn’t apply to any watches released before the Series 9. The blood-monitoring features were introduced with the Watch Series 6 in 2020, and both the Series 7 and Series 8 are still available.