Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 to lose blood-oxygen tracking
Apple was banned from selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US last year following a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo. However, Apple won a temporary stay on the ban, allowing it to continue selling its latest smartwatches, and now we learn the tech giant could turn off blood-oxygen functionality on the two watches to avoid a permanent ban since the dispute is related to SpO2 (blood-oxygen-level) sensors.
Disabling the SpO2 sensor on the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 would help Apple avoid a permanent ban in the US, continue the sales, and re-enable it with a software update when the two parties reach an agreement.
Apple has also reportedly started shipping the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 with SpO2 disabled to the retailers but has asked them not to open or sell the watches. That said, the SpO2 functionality will remain available to the US users for the time being while a final verdict is delivered.
It's also worth mentioning that the SpO2 functionality will be available to Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2's users outside the US regardless of the US appeals court's decision since the dispute pertains to sales in the US.
Reader comments
- Anonymous
What about watches buy before ban they are using this features me I don’t upgrade I can use that features
- 18 Jan 2024
- 6kw
- ElWes
Well, they may refund customers a proper portion of the paid price. 🙄
- 17 Jan 2024
- mxf
- Anonymous
I think you misunderstood what I was asking. I know they have the ability to disable things via OTA updates. I am wondering if they are allowed to do that, since they sold the watch with those features advertised. Removing them after the sale is typi...
- 17 Jan 2024
- y26