Apple could avoid Watch Series 9 & Ultra 2 ban by sacrificing key health features

Apple apparently wants to avoid Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 ban by removing the disputed health tech.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 are poised to be banned from being sold in the US due to a patent dispute with health tech company Masimo. The Cupertino company was recently granted a temporary halt in the ban. However, it seems Apple has found a more permanent solution, which involves removing key health features.

Apple may be planning to sell a modified Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 without the ability to read your blood oxygen levels— the feature behind the whole patent dispute between Apple and Masimo.

Apple may remove blood oxygen readings from the latest Watches

The info was discovered by MacRumors in the court documents filed by Masimo. The documents state, “In Apple’s request under 19 C.F.R. Part 177 (in a portion it did not identify as confidential), Apple explained ‘that its Redesigned Watch Products definitively (i) do not contain pulse oximetry functionality…’”.

The redesign is reportedly given the green light by the US Customs and Border Protection agency. It’s believed that this is a software workaround instead of a hardware change. This means Apple might be able to bring back blood-oxygen tracking features if it strikes a deal with Masimo or succeeds in an appeal.

Apple

If you plan on getting a new Watch Series 9 or Wach Ultra 2, you may have to make do without blood-oxygen tracking. It’s important to note that Masimo’s patent only applies to the watches being sold in the US. Those in Europe or other regions will see no change.

Apple took the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 off the shelves at its brick-and-mortar stores on December 24 and removed them from its online store beginning December 21.

However, the watches were back in stock on December 28 and will continue to be available with the blood oxygen readings for now.