Apple Temporarily Halts Sales of Series 9 and Ultra 2 Smartwatches in the US
A few days ago, Apple made the decision to temporarily halt sales of its latest smartwatches, the Series 9 and Ultra 2, in the United States. This move comes as a result of a patent issue regarding the blood oxygen monitoring function found in certain models of the watches. The ban prevents the import of Apple Watches equipped with blood oxygen sensors into the US from abroad, where they are manufactured. The ban went into effect on December 21 on the Apple website, and will also impact retail stores starting on December 24.
ITC Declines Apple's Plea to Prevent Sales Ban
Unfortunately for Apple, the International Trade Commission (ITC) declined the company's plea to prevent the sales ban on the Apple Watches. As a direct consequence of this decision, Apple will not be able to repair out-of-warranty Apple Watch units in the US after December 25, 2023. Typically, Apple Watch repairs involve replacing the entire damaged unit with a new one, rather than repairing a single component. However, with the sales ban in place, replacement watches will not be easily available.
Apple Product Replacement Programs Affected
Apple has already shared a memo with retailers, informing them of the news. According to Bloomberg, the memo stated that "Product replacement programs aren't available in the United States for the watches below: Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch Ultra or later." This means that any Apple Watch with a blood oxygen sensor that is no longer under warranty, including the Apple Watch Ultra and models 6 and later, cannot be replaced by Apple. Customers who experience a broken Apple Watch will have to wait for repairs until new hardware is released. However, software-based fixes will still be accessible.
Limited Options for Repairs and Replacements
While replacements are still permitted for Apple Watch models that are covered under warranty, this only applies to new devices covered by the normal one-year guarantee or those covered by an extended AppleCare warranty. After the sales ban takes effect, customers will no longer be able to return or exchange their Apple Watches, but they will still have the option to replace their bands and other accessories.
Apple Watch SE and Independent Stores
Despite the sales ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, Apple will still continue to sell the Apple Watch SE. Additionally, all models of the Apple Watch will still be available for purchase in independent stores such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, as long as stocks last.
Seeking Solutions to Evade the Ban
Reportedly, Apple is actively looking for alternatives to evade the sales ban by making modifications to the algorithms used to measure blood oxygen saturation. This suggests that the brand is determined to find ways to continue offering its blood oxygen monitoring feature in future models of the Apple Watch.
It is clear that the temporary sales ban has significant implications for Apple and its customers in the US. With repairs and replacements limited, Apple Watch users will need to exercise caution to ensure the longevity of their devices until a resolution to the patent issue is reached.
