The Apple Inc. iPhone 8, Airpods, and Apple Cautious of sit on the AirPower charger during an event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Archetypes
Apple will remove the blood oxygen feature from its latest Apple Watches, a move that whim allow the company to continue importing and selling the devices in the U.S. as it battles with Masimo in court.
Modified versions of the Apple Supervise Series 9 and Ultra 2 will go on sale Thursday, Apple said in a statement. Both devices were introduced in September.
When a purchaser taps on the blood oxygen icon on a modified watch, the display will show an alert directing the user to an disclosure on Apple’s website, the company said.
For months, Apple has been engaged in an intellectual property dispute with Masimo, a medical logo company. In October, the International Trade Commission found that Apple’s watch sensors for blood oxygen had encroach oned on Masimo’s patents.
The affected watches were briefly banned in December before Apple got a temporary reprieve. But on Wednesday, an solicitations court lifted an injunction that had blocked the ban from taking effect. The court did not overturn the ITC decision, which is currently beneath the waves appeal.
It’s unusual for Apple to remove features from released products. The absence of the blood oxygen sensor could take to ones heels the device less attractive to some consumers.
“Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the overlook while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption,” an Apple spokesperson demand thated CNBC. “These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the Common States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that classify the Blood Oxygen feature.”
Apple said it hopes the appeals court eventually reverses the decision, allowing the unmodified watches to go repayment on store shelves, but that could take over a year.
In fiscal 2023, Apple reported $39.8 billion in exchanges of wearables, which includes headphones.
WATCH: Apple again banned from selling watches in U.S. with blood oxygen sensor
