Cupertino-based tech giant Apple has paused the sale of the latest Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the United States on its official online platform a few days before the ban was set to take effect. Plus, the company will not repair older Apple Watches that are not covered under brand warranty anymore, which might prove a big headache for current customers.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the latest models are not available for purchase in New York. Apple earlier iterated that it would pause the sale of the wearable across its 270 physical stores in the US on December 24. The sale on the website was halted earlier so that the deliveries could be completed before the ban came into effect, according to the report. The sales will continue on the international platforms and stores.
Apple shared a message on the US website that it "no longer sells Apple Watch units in the United States with the ability to measure blood oxygen." The Watch SE still continues to be available for purchase among the latest models. After the US International Trade Commission ruled that the tech giant overstepped two patents concerning health-tracking technology, the ban on sale was imposed.
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Moreover, the Apple staff has been notified not to replace out-of-warranty models going back to Series 6. This implies that repairs for a broken will not be available via official Apple support. However, software support will be offered as usual.
The decision of replacement impacts watches launched in and after 2020, which includes the Series 6, 7, 8, 9 and Ultra models. These models ship with a blood oxygen feature. Also, a user must note that the models that continue to stay in warranty are not affected by the ban. Secondly, Apple will not exchange any models purchased even before the ban irrespective of whether they are eligible for exchange based on a new colour or size.
However, buyers can replace the accessories (such as bands), and they can return the watch during this period. To solve the problem, the company might have to strike an agreement with the involved party - Masimo. Further, the report noted that the tech giant is also considering a software upgrade to fix the problem.