Apple has stopped selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. due to an impending import ban by the ITC.
I’ve been keeping an eye on this issue for a while, and Apple has now confirmed it.
Reason for Unavailability in the U.S.
Apple is currently in a legal dispute with Masimo, a medical technology company. Masimo produces a Pulse Oximeter that measures Blood Oxygen Level (SpO2). This isn’t the first clash between the companies. Masimo alleges that Apple utilized its patented technology for the SpO2 sensor in the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer models released in 2020. Apple denied the allegations and accused Masimo of misusing the ITC to block a life-saving product from reaching millions of people. Apple also mentioned Masimo’s plans to release a watch similar to Apple’s design. Masimo has received FDA clearance for its own wearable. These disputes led to the ITC finding Apple guilty and issuing an import ban.
Apple’s statement to TechCrunch mentioned a Presidential Review Period for the intellectual property dispute, which ends on December 25. The possibility of President Joe Biden vetoing the ban is unlikely.
If the ban stands, Apple will take measures to return the banned devices to customers in the US as soon as possible and may file an appeal. The ban only affects Apple’s US sales, so the company can continue selling the wearables in other countries. Although the devices are unavailable on Apple’s website, they can still be purchased from physical Apple Stores until December 24. The ITC ban takes effect on December 25.
Retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy can continue to sell the banned Apple watches even after the ban. However, Apple has instructed its staff not to disclose the devices’ availability locations.
Impact on Apple Watch Repairs
Due to the ban, Apple is unable to repair older Apple Watches, affecting out-of-warranty models including those from the Apple Watch Series 6. This news comes as the holiday season approaches, leading to concerns about resellers exploiting the situation to make a profit.
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