Apple stops selling its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 online TODAY as landmark ban comes into force – and shoppers have until Sunday night to buy one in-store

Apple has officially stopped online sales for its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US, as a complete ban could go into effect on Sunday.

The move is due to a legal dispute over the technology Apple’s smartwatches use to run their blood oxygen feature.

Medical tech company Masimo is suing Apple, claiming it stole hardware from two of its patents.  

The announcement means the only available Apple Watch in the US will be the company’s budget SE model. 

The fate of the Apple Watch now rests in the hands of the White House, and if President Joe Biden does not veto the order, the tech giant will have to wait until 2028 to begin sales because that is when Masimo’s two patents expire.

Thursday’s announcement was not a surprise, as Apple revealed it would pull the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from its online store ‘preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand.’

The International Trade Commission (ITC) issued the landmark ban, which is responsible for clamping down on unfair trade practices.

In October, the ITC announced its ruling, finding that the Apple Watches infringed on two patents owned by Masimo.

The move is due to a legal dispute over the technology Apple’s smartwatches use to run their blood oxygen feature. Medical tech company Masimo is suing Apple, claiming it stole hardware from two of its patents