CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple has temporarily halted the online sales of two popular models of its Apple Watch in the U.S. due to an ongoing patent dispute. The company’s latest attempt to resolve the dispute and gain permission to use certain technology on the watches has been unsuccessful.
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models are no longer available for online ordering as of 3 p.m. ET. This suspension of sales is a result of a legal battle with medical technology company Masimo over an intellectual property claim.
The International Trade Commission has rejected Apple’s request to bypass an order issued in late October that prohibits the company from using specific technology related to the Blood Oxygen measurement feature on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches.
As a result of this decision, Apple has decided to comply with the ITC ruling and suspend the sales of the two watch models in the U.S. The suspension will remain in effect unless the Biden administration overturns it by Christmas. However, the devices will continue to be available in physical stores until Sunday.
The less advanced Apple Watch model will still be available for purchase after Christmas Eve. Customers who have already purchased Apple Watches with the Blood Oxygen feature will not be affected by the ITC order.
Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities estimates that Apple’s holiday-season sales could be reduced by $300 million to $400 million if the patent dispute results in the removal of the two watch models from the U.S. market during the final week of the year.