An Apple Watch Ultra 2 gadget is displayed on the market at The Grove Apple retail retailer on launch day in Los Angeles, California, on September 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. web site, CNBC checks present.
Apple’s web site for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 stated “presently unavailable” when considered on Thursday. The web page now includes a promotional picture for the Apple Watch SE, a lower-cost mannequin first launched in 2022 that’s unaffected by the patent dispute.
Apple stated earlier this week that it might cease selling its newest Watch fashions on its web site on Thursday and in Apple shops beginning after Sunday. Older fashions are nonetheless out there and retailers will be capable of promote the newest fashions whereas they nonetheless have inventory.
“Following December 24, 2023, Apple now not sells Apple Watch models within the United States with the flexibility to measure blood oxygen,” in accordance with high quality print on Apple’s product pages.
The pause in gross sales is in response to orders from the International Trade Commission in October that discovered that the gadget’s blood oxygen sensor had infringed on mental property from Masimo, a medical know-how firm that sells to hospitals. Apple shall be prevented from importing the gadgets, that are manufactured in China.
The pause signifies that Apple isn’t selling the newest fashions of one of its most necessary merchandise in its largest market through the busiest time of the 12 months for Apple gross sales.
It might additionally make it tougher for customers to get repairs for present watches by stopping swaps of damaged older {hardware} not underneath guarantee, according to Bloomberg News.
An Apple consultant did not instantly return a request for remark.
Apple shares had been down barely throughout buying and selling on Thursday.
President Biden might nonetheless veto the ITC ban earlier than Christmas, however a White House spokesperson stated earlier this week that the choice would fall to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
“We’re monitoring this case and the Dec. 25 deadline,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre instructed reporters Tuesday.
The U.S. Trade Representative “has the President’s delegated authority to make these determinations,” Jean-Pierre stated, including that Ambassador Katherine Tai is “fastidiously contemplating all of the components on this case.”