Apple has announced that the online sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have been halted in the United States. This decision was made to comply with the ITC ban on these products due to a patent infringement issue with Masimo. Unfortunately, this will also have an impact on customers who have already purchased the Apple Watch.
Reports suggest that employees at Apple Stores have been instructed to inform customers of the limitations regarding repairs or replacements for Apple Watches that are no longer covered by warranty. The reason is that there are currently no available parts for these devices. Apple will reach out to customers again once the ban has been lifted. This ban only affects the newer models, such as Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, and the first generation of the Apple Watch Ultra. It is important to note that this only affects hardware replacements, and Apple can still provide software-related services as usual. For devices that are still within the warranty period, Apple will be able to repair the hardware as before.
Additionally, this ban also includes requests for product exchanges made after December 25th. Apple will only allow exchanges for accessories, such as straps, but not for the watch face itself. This may have an impact on customers who purchased Apple Watches as Christmas gifts.
TLDR: Apple has stopped selling Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 online in the US due to an ITC ban caused by a patent infringement issue with Masimo. This ban affects hardware replacements only, while software-related services will still be available. Customers who have purchased these watches may experience limitations in repairs and replacements. Exchanges for accessories will be allowed, but not for the watch face.
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