The best Apple Watch models have been removed from Apple’s online store in the United States in anticipation of a ban on imports of both set to take effect December 25.
Earlier this week, Apple announced that it would stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 via its online platform after the International Trade Commission’s ruling that the blood oxygen monitor in the latest Watches violated a patent from a medical company called Masimo.
Now, as previously announced for December 21, you can no longer purchase these Apple Watch models directly from Apple online — when attempting to buy, the online store shows “Currently Unavailable.” While the Watches are still available in brick-and-mortar Apple Stores across the country, they will be removed from sale on Christmas Eve in just a few days.
Following December 24, you’ll still be able to buy the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from other retailers like Best Buy, but Apple will only sell the Apple Watch SE, a model that doesn’t have the blood oxygen sensor.
Biden to step in?
While Apple has already removed the Apple Watches from its online store, there is still a chance that the best smartwatches on the market become available again sooner rather than later.
The Biden administration could intervene, vetoing the import ban on the blood oxygen models of the Apple Watch into the US, but it only has until Christmas day to do so.
If the White House opts out of intervention, Apple will only be able to bring the Apple Watch back to its retail outlets by removing the blood oxygen sensor. However, one report has said Apple is scrambling to develop a workaround to keep the latest Watches on sale.
As reported by Bloomberg, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that US trade official Katherine Tai is “carefully considering all of the factors in this case,” so we could yet see another twist in this tale.
One thing’s for sure: if you want to gift an Apple Watch Series 9 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 this holiday season, your best bet won’t be Apple.
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The best Apple Watch models have been removed from Apple’s online store in the United States in anticipation of a ban on imports of both set to take effect December 25.
Earlier this week, Apple announced that it would stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 via its online platform after the International Trade Commission’s ruling that the blood oxygen monitor in the latest Watches violated a patent from a medical company called Masimo.
Now, as previously announced for December 21, you can no longer purchase these Apple Watch models directly from Apple online — when attempting to buy, the online store shows “Currently Unavailable.” While the Watches are still available in brick-and-mortar Apple Stores across the country, they will be removed from sale on Christmas Eve in just a few days.
Following December 24, you’ll still be able to buy the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from other retailers like Best Buy, but Apple will only sell the Apple Watch SE, a model that doesn’t have the blood oxygen sensor.
Biden to step in?
While Apple has already removed the Apple Watches from its online store, there is still a chance that the best smartwatches on the market become available again sooner rather than later.
The Biden administration could intervene, vetoing the import ban on the blood oxygen models of the Apple Watch into the US, but it only has until Christmas day to do so.
If the White House opts out of intervention, Apple will only be able to bring the Apple Watch back to its retail outlets by removing the blood oxygen sensor. However, one report has said Apple is scrambling to develop a workaround to keep the latest Watches on sale.
As reported by Bloomberg, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that US trade official Katherine Tai is “carefully considering all of the factors in this case,” so we could yet see another twist in this tale.
One thing’s for sure: if you want to gift an Apple Watch Series 9 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 this holiday season, your best bet won’t be Apple.