If you buy someone a newfangled Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 for Christmas , their Modern gift might have just gotten a fate more worthful . According toa program line sent to 9to5Mac , Apple will stanch sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 at its U.S. on-line stores on Thursday , December 21 , and its U.S. retail locations on Sunday , December 24 . sentry will still be available at third - party retail localisation , though shipments to Amazon , Best Buy , and others will stop on December 25 .
The shocking move is in response to an International Trade Commission decision announced in October , which uphold a opinion from January 2023 regarding Apple ’s infringement on a patent for the Apple Watch ’s blood oxygen sensing element . A medical engineering science company describe Masimo accused Apple of infringing on numerous letters patent and Apple was find liable on two accounts relating to the blood - oxygen sensing element and ordered to stop selling product using the engineering .
Since the Apple Watch SE does n’t have a blood - oxygen sensor , Apple can continue sell it in stores .
The ITC opinion in October began a 60 - day Presidential Review Period during which President Biden could negative the ban . Since that has n’t happened , Apple require to stop sell the Apple Watch by Christmas to in full abide by with the order . It ’s unclear how Apple will handle the move , which will surely produce mix-up among shoppers who are unaware of the determination .
In a statement to 9to5Mac , Apple said it is “ preemptively take steps to comply should the reign stand . ” Biden could still veto the ruling this week , though Apple ’s moves here make it seem like it is n’t all that confident that will happen . If the ruling is allowed to stand , Apple can lodge an appeal on December 26 ( which it already said it would do ) , though that wo n’t affect the ban . To take up sales , Apple will need to either discover a licensing batch with Masimo or evolve its own blood - O tech that does n’t infringe on Masimo ’s patents .
