The SpO2 sensor in the latest Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is part of a patent dispute in the US. The watch disappears from store shelves.

After December 21st, you will no longer be able to buy the latest Apple Watch, particularly the Series 9 and Ultra 2, in the US. There is a ban on importing an SpO2 sensor that measures oxygen levels in the blood. The sensor’s supplier, Masimo, has been in dispute with Apple for years and is now demanding significant resources.

Before you panic that we will no longer sell the smartwatch in the future: don’t worry. This is an import problem especially in the USA, in Europe everything stays as it is. In the US, only the Apple Watch SE will be available after December 21st, as this watch does not have an SpO2 sensor.

The patent dispute between Apple and Masimo has been simmering for years. The latter claims that Apple is violating its technology for measuring oxygen levels in the blood. It therefore commenced proceedings through the ITC in the US District Court and the Central District of California.

It goes without saying that Apple doesn’t agree with this. In a statement to The Verge, the company said that it “strongly disagrees” with the ban imposed and that it is “exploring all legal and technical options to ensure that Apple Watch remains available to customers.”

It is unclear how long the ban will remain in effect. A presidential investigation is currently underway and President Joe Biden will have a veto over lifting the ban. There is a deadline for this decision: December 25, 2023.

In the meantime, Apple is working on a solution to keep the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 on sale if the ban remains active. The manufacturer tells Bloomberg that it is working on software adjustments to measure and report oxygen saturation. Once this is completed, Apple will submit the solution to the ITC for them to lift the ban upon approval.