Apple Watch Online Sales Ban Commences Today

2 min read

The blood pulse oximeter on an Apple Watch

Apple has begun the process of discontinuing sales and shipments of some Apple Watch models from its online store, even though the self-imposed deadline has not yet passed. The full ban on Apple Watch sales for shipped orders will start at 3:00 PM ET on December 21.

Some models are already affected, with a recent check showing that almost every model available for immediate shipping on Wednesday evening. However, there has been an overnight shift for most of them, with a new message in the shipping options column only showing in-store pickup instead.

Although Apple has not formally announced the cessation of online orders, it is still possible to go through most of the ordering process. Ultimately, users are shown no delivery options, other than “today from store,” meaning directly from a retail Apple Store.

“A Presidential Review Period is in progress regarding an order from the U.S. International Trade Commission on a technical intellectual property dispute pertaining to Apple Watch devices containing the Blood Oxygen feature,” Apple said previously. “While the review period will not end until December 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand.”

As well as still being able to buy an Apple Watch from Apple’s own retail stores, there are also many discount deals on the Watch from other resellers until December 24, 2023. As previously confirmed to AppleInsider, the ban will not affect retail stores until December 24.

You May Also Like

More From Author