An Apple Watch Ultra 2 device is displayed on the market at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
Apple has stopped selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches on its U.S. website, CNBC checks show.
Apple’s website for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 said “currently unavailable” when viewed Thursday. The page now contains a promotional image for the Apple Watch SE, a lower-cost model first introduced in 2022 that’s unaffected by the patent dispute.
Apple said earlier this week that it might stop selling its latest Watch models on its website on Thursday and in Apple stores starting after Sunday. The Apple Watch SE continues to be available from Apple and retailers will give you the option to sell the most recent models while they still have stock.
“Following December 24, 2023, Apple now not sells Apple Watch units in the USA with the flexibility to measure blood oxygen,” in keeping with fantastic print on Apple’s product pages.
The pause in sales is in response to orders from the International Trade Commission in October that found that the device’s blood oxygen sensor had infringed on mental property from Masimo, a medical technology company that sells to hospitals. Apple will likely be prevented from importing the devices, that are manufactured in China.
The pause means Apple just isn’t selling the most recent models of one in all its most vital products in its largest market through the busiest time of the 12 months for Apple sales.
It could also make it tougher for users to get repairs for existing watches by stopping swaps of broken older hardware not under warranty, in keeping with Bloomberg News.
An Apple representative didn’t immediately reply to CNBC’s request for comment.
Apple shares were down barely during trading on Thursday.
President Joe Biden could still veto the ITC ban before Christmas, but a White House spokesperson said earlier this week that the choice would fall to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
“We’re tracking this case and the Dec. 25 deadline,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday.
The U.S. trade representative “has the President’s delegated authority to make these determinations,” Jean-Pierre said, adding that Ambassador Katherine Tai is “fastidiously considering all the aspects on this case.”
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