Apple recently encountered a significant setback, halting the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. due to a patent infringement case. Beyond the absence of these latest models, there’s a far-reaching implication affecting millions worldwide. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the fallout from the Apple Watch ban will impact the repairability of older models, barring Apple from servicing out-of-warranty Apple Watch models.
Reportedly, Apple has informed its customer service representatives that it will no longer repair out-of-warranty Apple Watch Series 6 and later models in the US. This extends to neither full unit replacements nor hardware repairs. However, the Apple Watch SE stands as an exception due to its lack of the contested blood oxygen monitoring feature, central to Apple’s ongoing patent dispute with Masimo.
The recent ruling dictates that Apple is unable to provide repairs until the ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) is lifted.
For context, Masimo, a medical company, has accused Apple of infringing upon two patents related to blood oxygen sensors, sparking this legal dispute.
For individuals who have purchased the Apple Care plan for their Apple Watch, repair eligibility remains intact. However, for users without an active Apple Care plan or those whose Apple Watch warranties have expired, seeking third-party repair services becomes necessary.
Apple will notify affected users that they will be contacted once repair services become available again, as per the current restrictions.
If you own an Apple Watch Series 6 or a later model with an expired warranty, exercising caution is advised. Additionally, remember that Apple Care+ can be purchased within 60 days of acquiring a new Apple device.
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