Following a lost bid to halt a ban on selling its newest Apple Watches, Apple started selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 online and in Apple Stores without blood oxygen measuring features on January 18th. A footnote on Apple’s site tells you how to identify the newer watches:
The ability to measure Blood Oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States on or after January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A.
Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg sent over a statement (included below) as well as information from Apple on how these devices will work. On these watches, the blood oxygen icon will still appear, but if the user taps it, they’ll see a message reading, “The Blood Oxygen app is no longer available. Learn more in the Health app on your iPhone.” In the Health app, blood oxygen is listed as “unavailable,” with a link pointing to a support article on Apple.com.
If you currently have an Apple Watch with blood oxygen features, Apple says there will be “no impact” to those devices.
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A court filing earlier this week confirmed that US Customs and Border Protection approved versions of the Apple Watches with the blood oxygen features removed. According to Bloomberg, Apple has developed a software workaround.
Here is Apple’s full statement from spokesperson Rothberg:
Apple’s appeal is ongoing, and we believe the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should reverse the USITC’s decision. We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting orders.
Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature.
Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the Blood Oxygen feature will become available from apple.com starting 6am PT on January 18, and from Apple Stores starting January 18.”
