The Apple Watch Isn’t Going to Be Banned After All … But It’s Not All Good News

Editor’s note: Apple is back to selling its Series 9 and Ultra 2 from its online store and retail locations. However, as of January 18th, Apple has started selling modified versions of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 with out the blood oxygen feature in the US.

There’s been a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Apple Watch over recent weeks. Is it banned? Is it not banned? What’s the deal?

Well, as of January 18th, we have our answer. Apple’s two newest smartwatches, the Series 9 and the Ultra 2, will not be banned in the US. However, moving forward, Apple will only sell modified versions of these smartwatches with blood oxygen sensor — commonly referred to as the SpO2 sensor — disabled.

Below, you can find a quick recap of the recent Apple Watch drama:

In early December, news broke that Apple was going to have to stop selling its two newest smartwatches, the Series 9 and the Ultra 2, in the US because of a patent dispute with the medical technology company Masimo. Apple stopped selling both models before Christmas and then the US International Trade Commission (ITC) officially imposed an import ban on both smartwatches on December 26 … but that ban only lasted a day.

On December 27th, a temporary pause was granted by the federal appeals court to give Apple time to come up with a software fix that would either work around Masimo’s patent or disable the blood oxygen sensor entirely. During the temporary pause, Apple was allowed to start selling both Apple Watch models in the US again. And it did.

Fast forward to January 17th and Apple announced that, starting on January 18th, it would start selling modified versions of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen feature.

Here’s what else you need to know.

Tucker Bowe

What is the blood oxygen sensor even used for?

The blood oxygen sensor enables some pretty niche wellness features on the Apple Watch. It checks your oxygen levels throughout the day — it can also give you on-demand readings via the Blood Oxygen app on your Apple Watch — which can give a better idea of overall health.

If you have a low blood oxygen level, it could be an early indicator that you’re getting sick, for example. It can also be used with sleep tracking to tell you the quality of sleep you’re actually getting. As Apple has emphasized over the years, the Apple Watch has “wellness” not “health” features. It’s in no way meant to replace a doctor, but instead give you a better idea of your general health and if something comes up, it could indicate whether you might want to see a doctor.

That said, the reality is that the vast majority of Apple Watch wearers probably don’t take advantage of its blood oxygen sensor.

What if I already own a Series 9 or Ultra 2?

If you already own a Series 9 or Ultra 2, there’s good news: you’ll still be able to take advantage of the blood oxygen sensor for the time being. Apple is not expected to roll out a software update that will disable this existing feature.

Will my older Apple Watch be affected?

It appears not. Apple has integrated the blood oxygen sensor in every non-SE Apple Watch that’s Series 6 or later. That said, if Apple does roll out a software update that limits or disables the blood oxygen sensor, it likely won’t affect your older Apple Watch.

The reason is that the ITC ruling only targets the Series 9 and the Ultra 2 and thus should not affect the functionality of the older Apple Watches, including the original Ultra, Series 8, Series 7 or Series 6.

What about the Apple Watch SE?

It’s not affected by the patent dispute.

Released in 2022, the Apple Watch SE (2nd-generation) is the most entry-level smartwatch that Apple still sells and lacks the disputed blood oxygen sensor. Therefore, it won’t be affected by any software update that disables it.

Apple

Apple Watch Series 9

• $329.00 at Amazon
  $399.00 (18% off)

Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 2

• $749.00 at Amazon
  $799.00 (6% off)

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