Apple Halts Sales of Latest Watches in U.S. Amidst Oxygen Sensor Dispute

Apple is putting a stop to sales of its latest smartwatches in the U.S. this week. The affected models are the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This decision comes as a result of a problem with the blood oxygen sensor technology found in these watches, 9to5Mac reports. If you're thinking of getting one for Christmas, make sure to grab it before Thursday. Online sales will be cut off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 21. Additionally, stores will no longer be selling them after Dec. 24, according to a statement from Apple. This situation has arisen due to a disagreement with the International Trade Commission (ITC). They have instructed Apple to stop selling these watches. However, there's a glimmer of hope that it might not actually happen. Apple is sharing this news ahead of the Dec. 25 deadline, hoping that President Biden will step in and say no to the ITC's decision. The trouble started brewing back in 2013 when Apple had talks with another company called Masimo. They discussed potential collaboration. However, Masimo claims that Apple used this meeting as an opportunity to steal their technology. This technology is designed to check the oxygen level in your blood. Following the launch of the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020, equipped with this technology, Masimo took legal action against Apple. When the court case was dragging on without a clear decision, Masimo filed a complaint with the ITC in 2021. Despite the district court case ending in a mistrial in May, the ITC made a decision in favour of Masimo in October. It's crucial to note that this ban only affects the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches. The reason is that these models come with a blood oxygen sensor. On the other hand, the Apple Watch SE, which lacks this sensor, will continue to be available for purchase. Apple strongly disagrees with the ITC's order. They emphasize their commitment to creating products with robust health features. Apple is exploring different ways to fight against this decision. Furthermore, if the order does stand, Apple promises to take all necessary measures to promptly return the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches to customers in the U.S.