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 You Need To Know
- Apple is suspending sales of its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models, the company announced Monday
- Neither watch will be available to order from the U.S. Apple web site as of 3 p.m. ET Thursday
- Apple will pull inventory from its retail stores after December 24
- The move follows a patent dispute over the watches' blood oxygen sensor technology
The decision follows an International Trade Commission ruling about a patent dispute between Apple and the medical technology company, Masimo, which claims Apple stole its pulse oximetry technology. Apple first began incorporating blood oxygen sensors with its Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020.
A judge ruled in favor of Masimo in January, and the ITC issued its decision in October, triggering a 60-day Presidential Review Period during which President Biden is able to veto the ruling. The presidential review expires December 25.
Apple said its decision to stop selling the two Apple Watch models is a preemptive action to comply with the ITC decision.
“Apple’s team work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features,” the company said in a statement. “Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is pursuing a range of legal and technical options to ensure that Apple Watch is available to customers.”
Because they use blood oxygen monitoring, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 version of the Apple Watch are being suspended. The entry-level Apple Watch SE, which does not include the sensor, will remain on sale.
Under the ITC decision, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 are still available from non-Apple outlets, including Best Buy and Amazon. However, Apple will no longer be able to import them to the United States after December 25, which could impact their availability through other retailers.
FAQs
Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 sales ban: all your questions, answered. Update: Apple won a reprieve on December 27, 2023, after the US Court of Appeals granted a stay to the ban. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are set to return to the Apple Store on December 28.
Why is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 not being sold? ›
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.
Why did Apple discontinue the Apple Watch Ultra? ›
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.
Why did Apple stop selling the Apple Watch 9? ›
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will no longer be available to purchase from Apple starting later this week. The move comes following an ITC ruling as part of a long-running patent dispute between Apple and medical technology company Masimo around the Apple Watch's blood oxygen sensor technology.
Is the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 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. Apple had appealed that ruling and was granted a temporary stay on the ban while the court reviewed the case.
Is the Apple Ultra 2 worth it? ›
It links to Apple Fitness+ too – and while this is a subscription feature, it's one that's worth considering if you've already forked out for this and are currently paying for a third-party fitness app, either for running or for fitness, as you might find that Apple's version could offer all of these bits in one place, ...
Is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 good? ›
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also very good, because it's mostly the same watch. It has a brighter screen (Apple's brightest screen ever, in fact) but Apple's new S9 SiP chip and the watchOS 10 operating system are what's bringing most of the changes.
Where is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 made in the USA? ›
No Apple watches are made in the USA.
Can I return my Apple Watch Ultra 2? ›
You have 14 calendar days to return an item from the date you received it. Only items that have been purchased directly from Apple, either online or at an Apple Retail Store, can be returned to Apple.
What is the lifespan of an Apple Watch Ultra? ›
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.
The Biden administration has decided to uphold an import ban on some Apple watches in a health care patent infringement case brought by two companies in Irvine, Calif. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in October that Apple, Inc.
Is Apple releasing a new watch in 2024? ›
Apple is likely to unveil its third 'Ultra' watch in September 2024, alongside the iPhone 16 series, a report from Macrumors, backed by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggested. According to the report, Apple will also announce an affordable third-gen Apple Watch SE.
Does Ultra 2 have an oxygen sensor? ›
All Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 models that Apple sells in the United States now no longer come with a working blood oxygen sensor. The sensor previously monitored the levels of oxygen in the blood.
Will there be a new Apple Watch Ultra in 2024? ›
For now, we expect to see the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in September 2024.
