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An Apple Watch Ultra 2 device is displayed for sale at The Grove Apple retail store on its release day on September 22, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | getty images
Apple A CNBC investigation shows that the company has stopped selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches on its US website.
Apple’s website for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 was reported as “currently unavailable” when visited Thursday. The page now features a promotional image for the Apple Watch SE, a lower-priced model first introduced in 2022 that is unaffected by the patent dispute.
Apple said earlier this week that it would stop selling its latest Watch models on its website on Thursday and in Apple Stores after Sunday. The Apple Watch SE is still available at Apple and retailers will be able to sell the latest model while they still have stock.
According to the fine print on Apple’s product pages, “After December 24, 2023, Apple no longer sells Apple Watch units with the ability to measure blood oxygen in the United States.”
The halt in sales is in response to International Trade Commission orders in October, which found that the device’s blood oxygen sensor infringed intellectual property. massimo, a medical technology company that sells to hospitals. Apple will be prevented from importing devices that are manufactured in China.
The pause means Apple isn’t selling the latest model of one of its most important products in its biggest market during the busiest time of the year for sales.
According to Bloomberg News, it may become more difficult for users to get existing watches repaired by preventing the exchange of old hardware that is broken under warranty.
An Apple representative did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Apple shares fell slightly during trading on Thursday.
President Joe Biden can still veto the ITC ban before Christmas, but a White House spokeswoman said earlier this week that the decision would be up to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
“We are keeping an eye on this matter and the December 25 deadline,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday.
“The U.S. Trade Representative has the authority granted by the President to make these decisions,” Jean-Pierre said. She said Ambassador Katherine Tai was “carefully considering all factors in this case.”
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