Apple Suspends Online Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US
Cupertino, Calif.—Apple has temporarily halted the online sales of two popular models of its internet-connected watch in the United States. This decision comes after the company lost its latest attempt to resolve a patent dispute that is preventing it from using certain technology in the devices.
Legal Battle with Masimo
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are currently unavailable for online orders as Apple complies with a legal battle over an intellectual property claim filed by medical technology company Masimo. The International Trade Commission (ITC) recently rejected Apple’s bid to bypass an October order that prohibited the company from using specific technology related to the Blood Oxygen measurement feature on these watch models.
Suspension of Sales
As a result of the ITC ruling, Apple has decided to suspend the sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the United States. This suspension went into effect on Thursday afternoon. However, the devices will still be available for purchase in physical stores until Sunday. The less advanced version of the Apple Watch will continue to be sold in the US after Christmas Eve. It’s important to note that previously purchased Apple Watches equipped with the Blood Oxygen feature are not affected by the ITC order.
Impact on Holiday Sales
Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, estimates that Apple’s holiday-season sales could be reduced by $300 million to $400 million if the patent dispute results in the removal of the two watch models from the US market during the final week of the year.
Looking Ahead
Apple’s decision to suspend online sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 reflects the company’s commitment to complying with the ITC ruling. The fate of these watch models in the US market will ultimately depend on whether the Biden administration decides to overturn the ruling by Christmas.
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