Apple is halting sales of its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 devices. Here's why. (2024)

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Apple is halting sales of its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 devices. Here's why.? ›

Apple's decision comes after the ITC ruled that the tech giant had illegally incorporated blood oxygen technology from Masimo, a medical tech company, and ordered Apple to stop importing the devices. A presidential review panel is now reviewing the ITC's order, with that review period slated to end on December 25.

In case you missed it, Apple can no longer sell the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (its latest and best Apple Watches) in the US due to a patent dispute with health tech company Masimo. The dispute centers around the watch's blood oxygen sensor, which Masimo claims infringes on its copyright.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 were both banned in the US late last year as the result of a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. The International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that the blood oxygen sensors in both devices infringed on patents from Masimo.

Apple stopped selling its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches last week in stores and online in response to an International Trade Commission order in October that found the blood oxygen sensor in the devices had infringed on intellectual property from Masimo , a medical technology company that sells to hospitals.

The company said it is taking the “preemptive step” of stopping the watch sales to comply with orders issued by the International Trade Commission.

Apple Watch Ultra Has Some Drawbacks

The main drawback of the Ultra is the problem with navigation (1). To fix it, you have to install the Footpath app. “This is still a little more clunky than using navigation on Garmin, but it does help make the Apple Watch Ultra finally feel like an actual sports watch.”

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be released on September 22, 2023.

​ The discontinuation is a response to a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission, which found that Apple's blood oxygen feature infringed on the patent rights of medical technology company Masimo.

The bottom line: The Apple Watch Series 9 is a worthwhile upgrade over the Series 5. The performance benefits that come with upgrading from a 4-year-old chip will feel substantial, and there are plenty of new features that make the Series 9 feel significantly different.

Apple will stop selling its latest watches in the US, after the US found it had violated patent rights. An order barring sales and imports of watches with the disputed blood oxygen feature is due to go into effect on 26 December.

Why is the Apple Watch going to be banned? ›

At the end of 2023, Apple was barred from selling the two wearables by the US International Trade Commission because of a dispute over a patent for the technology Apple uses in the watches' blood-oxygen sensor.

It wasn't that easy to use, the battery didn't last long, and notifications sometimes failed to show up. Magazines like Fast Company even said that it was too perfect for the real world. Apple made people's lives easier, and this device didn't. As a result, the media labeled it as a flop.

Apple is no longer selling the Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 online, and will stop instore sales on Sunday, December 24. It will also stop replacing out-of-warranty Watches which feature blood oxygen monitors.

Apple is no longer selling the newest Apple Watch in America after the White House declines to overturn ban. Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches. The clock has wound down on the newest Apple Watch after the White House declined to issue a last-minute, emergency action to keep the best-selling smartwatch on store shelves.

The company said the figures were distorted by Covid-related supply disruptions, which led to unusually strong sales during the same period last year. It said it expected sales to return to growth in the months ahead, noting upcoming product launches and investments in artificial intelligence (AI).

The ITC banned sales of two new models released in 2023—the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9. Apple halted in-sale stores of both models on December 24, and halted online sales the prior week, Apple told the appeals court. The company began using the feature with new watches with the Series 6 in 2020.

Apple has announced in a statement that the company will stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US from Apple's website in after 3pm ET on December 21, 2023.

While the device might keep working and can still be paired to an iPhone after Apple ends support, a lack of updates makes it a security risk. That means the end of life should really be thought of as three to five years, even if the Apple Watch is in perfect condition.