Apple was blocked from selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US after President Joe Biden’s administration declined to veto the ban; however, on December 27th, the federal appeals court temporarily paused it, allowing Apple to restart sales in its stores and on Apple.com.
Apple pulled both devices from its website on December 21st and from its store shelves after December 24th. A statement (via CNBC) from the Office of US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the agency “decided not to reverse the ITC’s [International Trade Commission] determination” after “careful consideration.”
In a statement published by Reuters, an unnamed Apple spokesperson confirmed it’s appealing the ITC decision and said: “We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting exclusion order, and are taking all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the U.S. as soon as possible.”
The ITC issued the ban after finding that Apple infringed on blood oxygen saturation technology patented by a company called Masimo. It also ordered Apple to stop selling any previously-imported devices with the infringed-upon tech. While Apple attempted to block the decision while awaiting an appeal, the ITC denied Apple’s request, and the other chance of intervention was a veto from President Joe Biden, which didn't happen.
The ban only affectrf Apple stores in the US. That meant customers could still get their hands on a Watch Series 9 or Watch Ultra 2 at Best Buy, Target, and other retailers while supplies last. Apple will also continue selling the Watch SE, as it doesn’t come with a blood oxygen sensor.
Still, it’s not clear where Apple will go from here. My colleague Victoria Song explores the various paths Apple could take, including making software changes to the blood oxygen sensor on both watches or disabling the sensor on imported devices. But both of those methods might not be enough to satisfy the ITC, which is why Apple could always choose to settle with Masimo instead.
Update December 26th, 11:10AM ET: Added statement and appeal.
Update December 27th, 12:03PM ET: Updated to reflect the temporary pause.
Update December 27th, 5:33PM ET: Noted Apple Watch sales restart details.
FAQs
The ITC issued the ban after finding that Apple infringed on blood oxygen saturation technology patented by a company called Masimo. It also ordered Apple to stop selling any previously-imported devices with the infringed-upon tech.
Why is Apple banned from selling Apple Watches in the US? ›
The restarting of sales comes hours after a federal appeals court paused a sales and import ban that covered both devices. Apple was banned from selling both products in the US after the US International Trade Commission found that the company had violated patents from the medical device maker Masimo.
Why are Apple Watches not being sold anymore? ›
Patent violation
Masimo, a medical device maker, holds the patent in question. Other retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, among others, continue to sell their remaining stock of Apple Watches in stores and online. But the ITC ruling prevents Apple from importing more of the smartwatches to the United States.
What is the Apple Watch blood oxygen dispute? ›
A significant legal battle has unfolded between Apple and Massimo Corporation regarding patented pulse oximetry technology used in certain Apple Watch models to measure blood oxygen levels. The contentious dispute spans multiple case venues as the parties pursue their respective positions.
Are Apple Watches safe to wear? ›
A 2019 study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology that confirmed that levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation emitted by the Apple Watch were “well below the international radiofrequency exposure limits.”
Do Apple Watches still have blood oxygen? ›
Knowing how well oxygenated your blood is can help you understand your overall health and wellness. Note: Blood Oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use. The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States on or after January 18, 2024.
Why is Apple Watch dying so fast? ›
Things You Should Know. Disable features like "Always On", "Hey Siri", "Wake on Wrist Raise," and other features to save battery life. If your Apple Watch is an older model, the battery may have deteriorated due to age. Low battery life could also be due to software update issues or pairing problems.
Is Apple Watch a flop? ›
The Apple Watch has come a long way since it hit six years ago. It was initially deemed a flop in 2016 and failed to win customers over in the months after it launched.
How accurate is the blood oxygen sensor on Apple Watch? ›
The authors report 95% limits of agreement of -5.8% and +5.9%. In patients and conditions where the conventional pulse oximeter measured >90% spO2, the Apple Watch measured on average 1% higher than the conventional device.
Will the Apple Watch measure blood sugar? ›
Apple noted that several third-party apps designed to track and measure blood sugar are available. Some of these are even integrated with the Apple Watch, allowing you to view your blood sugar directly from the watch's face.
The sensor previously monitored the levels of oxygen in the blood. The reason Apple disabled the blood oxygen sensor is a legal one. Apple has been in an ongoing patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo, which alleges that Apple has infringed on its blood oxygen technology patents.
Why is the Apple Watch 9 no longer for sale? ›
Apple announced Monday that it will stop selling its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the United States. Neither watch will be available to order from the U.S. Apple website as of 3 p.m. ET Thursday. Inventory will be pulled from Apple retailers after December 24, the company said in a statement.
What is the oldest Apple Watch you can buy new? ›
- 1st generation: April 24, 2015.
- Series 1 and Series 2: September 16, 2016.
- Series 3: September 22, 2017.
- Series 4: September 21, 2018.
- Series 5: September 20, 2019.
- Series 6 and SE (1st generation): September 18, 2020.
- Series 7: October 15, 2021.
- Series 8 and SE (2nd generation): September 16, 2022.
Apple has stopped selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches on its U.S. website, CNBC checks show. “Following December 24, 2023, Apple no longer sells Apple Watch units in the United States with the ability to measure blood oxygen,” according to fine print on Apple's product pages.
Is Apple Watch locked in USA? ›
There is NO carrier lock. Any carrier in those countries who support Apple Watch can be used on a watch purchased in the US. Then there's the rest of the world. Apple watches purchased outside the US, Canada, Mexico or Puerto Rico, will be able to connect to any carrier in the rest of the world who support Apple Watch.
Can you sell Apple Watch at Apple? ›
Get $70–$360 when you trade in an Apple Watch. footnote ¹
| Your device | Estimated trade-in value footnote ¹ |
|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra | Up to $360 |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | Up to $165 |
| Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) | Up to $110 |
| Apple Watch Series 7 | Up to $140 |
A federal appeals court ordered a halt on the import and sales bans today, after Apple requested that they be paused at least until US Customs can determine if changes it's making to the Apple Watch would be enough to avoid the patent dispute that led to the ban.
Is Apple Watch FDA cleared? ›
Apple first received FDA 510(k) clearance for its irregular heart rhythm notification on its watch in November 2021.
