If you’re looking to buy a new Apple Watch after Christmas Eve, you may find your options limited as Apple has decided to stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the midst of the holiday shopping season. This unexpected move stems from a patent dispute resulting in Apple ceasing online sales on Thursday and in-store sales on Sunday. It remains uncertain when or if these watches will be available for purchase once again.
While this decision does not impact existing owners of the Series 9 or Ultra 2, the only smartwatch available for purchase from Apple after Christmas Eve will be the entry-level Apple Watch SE, as it is the only model in the lineup without an SpO2 sensor, which enables a feature for measuring blood oxygen levels on the pricier Apple Watches.
A disagreement between Apple and California-based health technology company Masimo regarding this blood oxygen feature has led to a ruling in Masimo’s favor by the U.S. International Trade Commission. Currently, this decision is undergoing presidential review, and in the event that the result stands, Apple is preparing to comply with the ruling.
If the ruling does stand, Apple intends to appeal the decision to a federal circuit court, and there are reports suggesting that the company is working on software updates that could potentially navigate around the patent issues. However, these updates may take some time to test and there is no guarantee that they will be sufficient to circumvent Masimo’s patents, leaving the watches in a state of uncertainty.
Additionally, Apple could choose to negotiate with Masimo to license its blood oxygen sensor technology, or it could remove the pulse oximeter from its watches altogether.
The SpO2 sensor is just one of the many health features that make the Series 9 the preferred smartwatch for iPhone users, and the Ultra 2 as an upgrade option for endurance athletes. While this feature measures oxygen saturation levels through a user’s skin, it’s important to note that the Series 9 and Ultra 2 provide other health features that won’t be available once they are no longer for sale, such as an ECG feature for detecting atrial fibrillation in the Series 4 and later models (except for the SE).
For those interested in the Series 9 or Ultra 2, purchases from Apple’s website must be made by December 24, as the watches will be available to pick up in-store until the end of that day. Following that, third-party retailers like Walmart and Best Buy will continue selling both models, so customers will still have alternative purchase options.
