Apple has halted the sales of its latest Apple Watch models in the United States after President Joe Biden chose not to enact an emergency measure that would have allowed the continued sale of the popular smartwatch.
The decision comes after the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against Apple, barring the sale of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, among other recent models, due to patent infringement issues related to pulse oximetry technology.
The patent infringement case, brought by medical device manufacturer Masimo, centers around technology that uses light to measure blood oxygen levels, a feature present in the affected Apple Watch models. Despite the ruling, other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are still selling their existing inventory of Apple Watches, both in stores and online. However, Apple is restricted from importing more units of these smartwatches into the United States.
The Apple Watch, known for its health-related features, is a best-selling watch globally. In response to the ITC’s decision, Apple has expressed strong disagreement and announced its intent to explore legal and technical avenues to make the Apple Watch available to US consumers again. The company is committed to taking all necessary measures to address the situation.
