If you were planning to snag the latest Apple Watch for your loved ones this holiday season, you might want to act fast. Apple has dropped a surprise bomb—sales of its two newest models, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2, are temporarily on hold. The reason? A disagreement over a fancy feature in these watches related to checking your blood-oxygen levels.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is considering banning these watches, and Apple wants to be one step ahead.
What’s the Issue?
So, what’s the big deal? Well, it turns out there’s a disagreement with a company called Masimo over a cool tech feature. Masimo says Apple is using its idea for checking blood-oxygen levels without permission. A judge agreed with Masimo in October, and now the ITC is thinking about putting a ban on these watches.
Why Is This Happening?
Apple and Masimo have been arguing about this for a while. Masimo sued Apple in 2021, saying Apple copied its cool way of checking blood-oxygen levels. A judge said, “Yep, Apple copied,” and the ITC agreed in October. Now, there’s a waiting period until December 25 to see what the big bosses say. Apple is already taking steps, just in case.
What About Other Apple Watches?
Good news if you already have an Apple Watch with blood-oxygen monitoring—it’s not affected. Also, the more affordable Apple Watch SE is safe because it doesn’t have this feature. This is all happening only in the US, and it’s not forever—Apple calls it a “pause.”
When Can I Still Buy Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2?
Sales on Apple’s official website will stop at 3 pm Eastern on December 21. If you’re planning to grab one in-store, you’ve got until the end of the day on December 24. But here’s the catch—it only affects Apple’s sales. You can still find them on other websites like Amazon and Best Buy for now.
What’s Next for Apple?
The big decision comes after December 25. Apple is saying they disagree with the decision and will try everything they can to get the watches back on the shelves. They might go to court, try to settle with Masimo, or who knows what else. For now, if you want an Apple Watch with blood monitoring, time is running out. Stay tuned to see how this high-tech drama unfolds!
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