Apple Watch Series 9 & Ultra 2 ban reinstated after federal court decision

The Apple Watch Series 9 & Ultra 2 devices will be banned in the US again after a federal judge denied the company’s motion to continue sales.

Update January 18, 2024: Apple has opted to remove the Blood Oxygen feature from both the Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches as a way to bypass the ban.

Since just days before Christmas 2023, Apple has been going back and forth with the US government and medical technology company Masimo.

Masimo says that Apple is infringing on their patents with the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor, which led to the Cupertino company removing the Series 9 and Ultra 2 online and in-store on December 21 and 24.

Sales resumed just days later as Apple was granted a temporary halt on the ban, but the federal appeals court has opted to reinstate the ban.

Apple

Apple Watch ban reinstated following court order

As found by MacRumors, Apple is being forced to halt sales on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watch on January 18, 2024, at 5 pm ET.

This comes after a decision from the US Federal Appeals Court to deny Apple’s motion to maintain sales while they work through an appeal process against the decisions.

As with the original ban, third-party companies like phone carriers, Best Buy, Walmart, and others will still be able to sell the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches as long as they have the product in stock.

If they run out while the ban is in place, Apple will be unable to import any more of the wearables until it is lifted.

As a workaround for the ban, the company may potentially issue a software update that removes the blood oxygen sensor options from watches that feature that option.