The dispute between Apple and medical technology company Masimo remains unresolved, and the affected Apple watches are now back to being banned after several returns. In its current state, you should be careful with your watch if it still has the blood oxygen feature.
AppleCare Might Make It Go Away
The patent dispute between the iPhone maker and the company that claims that Apple stole their tech, Masimo, is still in the process of being solved. Since it is yet to be settled, the company behind the smartwatches had to take the Series 9 and Ultra 2 off the shelves.
Some bought the banned models before they were made unavailable, meaning that they still have the blood oxygen feature. However, breaking your watch could lead to the vital sensor being removed, as reported by The Verge.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple told AppleCare reps that replacements for certain parts that have the feature will no longer have it. From here on out, you'll need to be careful with your Series 9 or Ultra 2 if you want to keep the feature.
If you're an active person and use your watch for monitoring your vitals during intense physical activities, you can buy protective accessories for your watch such as a screen protector, although Apple does not recommend this.
You can opt for the simpler solution by removing your watch when you know that you'll be in a situation where you might damage it. There is a chance that AppleCare will still have the parts you need since Gurman said that it was a "definite maybe," so fingers crossed.
Apple vs Masimo Dispute
The ban on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 was temporarily lifted after Apple announced that it would no longer be available after Christmas. Unfortunately, the federal court decided that the ban must be resumed, and so it was.
Apple was accused of using licensed technology from Masimo when it comes to the sensors to detect a person's blood oxygen. The company behind the complaint even claimed that Apple poached its executives so they could bring the tech over to the tech giant.
It was said that the former Masimo employees were offered more money to encourage them to join Apple, as reported by Gizmodo. Obviously, that plan was not the soundest decision Apple made as the smartwatches that use it are now banned.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against Apple back in October 2023, where Masimo CEO Joe Kiani said that he offered Apple a licensing deal but the latter never engaged it, even after the patent lawsuit was filed.
Apple tried to wiggle out of the ban by trying to have the Biden administration veto the decision but with no luck. It also tried to develop an update that would alter the algorithm behind the tech, although that was not enough.
The ban on the watches will eventually get lifted, although whether the blood oxygen feature will still include the newer models will depend on how the patent dispute will be resolved between the two companies.
