Apple has stopped promoting the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 within the US on its on-line retailer, simply days earlier than a ban associated to a patent dispute takes impact.
The firm additionally will now not have the ability to restore watch fashions which might be out-of-warranty, a possible headache for customers.
The latest Apple Watch fashions had been now not accessible for buy from the corporate’s web site as of about 3pm Thursday in New York. The firm beforehand mentioned it will finish gross sales at its about 270 bodily retail shops within the US on December 24. Online buying within the US was stopped sooner than in-store gross sales in order that watches may very well be despatched to customers earlier than a ban scheduled for December 25 goes into impact. Sales will proceed at Apple’s worldwide on-line and in-person shops.
Apple posted a message on the web site saying it “no longer sells Apple Watch units in the United States with the ability to measure blood oxygen.” Apple Watch SE fashions with out that function are nonetheless on sale.
The gross sales ban was imposed by the US International Trade Commission, which dominated that Apple violated two health-technology patents associated to blood oxygen sensing held by Irvine, California-based Masimo.
Separately, Apple’s customer support groups had been knowledgeable in a memo that the corporate will now not substitute out-of-warranty fashions going again to Apple Watch Series 6. That means if a buyer has a damaged display screen, as an illustration, they will not have the ability to get the problem fastened by Apple. The firm will nonetheless supply assist that may be achieved through software program, resembling reinstalling the working system.
Company representatives had been advised to inform affected prospects that they are going to be contacted when {hardware} replacements are allowed once more. Generally earlier than the ban, Apple was unable to repair a lot of the {hardware} points with the smartwatch and, as an alternative, changed these items.
The determination to cease watch replacements impacts most new Apple Watches offered since 2020, together with the Series 6, 7, 8 and Ultra, along with the present 9 and Ultra 2. All of these fashions embrace the blood oxygen function the fee dominated had been lined by the patents.
Customers who buy watches earlier than December 25 — the day the ban comes into place within the US — and fashions which might be nonetheless underneath guarantee aren’t affected by the substitute prohibition. The included guarantee for the system is often one 12 months, whereas customers will pay for AppleCare to increase the time interval.
After December 25, Apple additionally will not have the ability to trade a watch bought earlier than the ban, say for a unique shade or dimension, through the typical return interval. Retail workers was advised a product swap will not be allowed, however Apple will substitute equipment like bands. Watches can nonetheless be returned for a refund.
Earlier this week, Apple staff had been advised they cannot inform prospects that the Apple Watch stays on sale at third-party retailers, resembling Best Buy and Target, as a result of authorized order. The watch will probably proceed to be accessible at these stores till the provision already within the US runs out. Apple will not have the ability to import extra watches — that are made abroad — till after the fee’s order is lifted.
The ban on the watches stays in impact till Apple reaches a licensing settlement with Masimo, will get a federal reprieve or fixes the issue. Apple is engaged on a software program replace it believes will mitigate the problem.
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