Apple Watch BANNED! Apple Cannot Sell These Models In US: Here's What Happened

Apple will no longer be permitted to sell its latest Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches in the United States beginning on December 21, with the last permissible pickup or delivery from Apple Stores being on December 24, the day of Christmas eve.

As 9to5Mac reports, this move is in compliance with an ITC ruling stemming from Apple’s patent dispute with Masimo, a manufacturer of medical-grade equipment such as pulse oximeters, which are used to measure the level of oxygen in the blood. The dispute is due to Apple’s alleged infringement of Masimo’s blood oxygen (SpO2) sensing technology.

It is worth noting that the Apple Watch SE 2, the third, and the budget Apple Watch in the lineup this year, is exempt from this ruling, as it does not have a sensor to measure blood oxygen. Additionally, it should be noted that both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Series can still be sold outside of the United States, meaning that consumers can still purchase them in regions such as India, the United Kingdom, and more.

In a statement to 9toMac, Apple notes that a “presidential review period" is underway from the US International Trade Commission. “While the review period will not end until December 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand. This includes pausing sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple.com starting December 21, and from Apple retail locations after December 24," Apple was quoted as saying by 9to5Mac.

Apple further added: “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."

Further, Apple also acknowledged that if this order were to stay, and if the Biden administration does not veto the ban, Apple will take “all measures" to make both the watches available to US customers soon.

It remains to be seen how Apple will proceed in light of the recent ban on the sale of both of its latest Apple Watch models, which came at the start of the holiday season. It is also worth considering the potential impact of this ban on the rumoured Apple Watch redesign that could be currently in development.