Wanted to buy an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 to start the new year off right and confused by all the current chaos? Well, we don’t blame you. A federal appeals court has stopped Apple from pausing an import ban on its popular wearable, but Apple has now found a workaround by releasing a slightly tweaked model — and other retailers still have the fully-functional version.
The company pivoted to sell Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models without blood oxygen measurement by removing pulse oximetry functionality. Fortunately, you can still get the original models — at least while supplies last.
This chaos is the latest step in a years-long feud between Apple and California-based health tech company Masimo, which came to a head last December. Apple revealed it would need to stop importing and selling the Apple Watch in a note to 9to5Mac and later confirmed the announcement with CNN. The review period ended on Dec. 25 and led to a halt of sales from Apple but not from major retailers such as Best Buy.
As of this writing, Apple’s noting that the Series 9 and Ultra 2 it sells “no longer include the blood oxygen feature.” Major third-party retailers appear to still have the original model. Best Buy has confirmed to CNN Underscored that it’ll continue to sell the watch. It’s unclear how long Best Buy and Amazon will have stock of the original models, so make sure you’re buying a version that mentions blood oxygen. Check to see if the retailer lists a model number, as units ending in “LW/A” are the updated versions without blood oxygen tracking.
The Apple Watch Series 9’s excellent performance and robust health features make it the best overall Apple Watch for most people.
Designed to withstand extreme conditions, the Ultra 2 is an excellent pick for those who live on the wild side and off the beaten path, and those who want every single Apple Watch feature there is.
As we point out in our Apple Watch Series 9 review and Ultra 2 review, these are two of the best smartwatches you can buy, even if they’re both fairly iterative improvements over their predecessors. Both watches have better performance and brighter screens than before, and both benefit from the new Double Tap feature that lets you do things like answer calls or control your music playback with quick one-handed gestures.
We consider the Series 9 to be the best pick for most people, particularly if you’re upgrading from a Series 6 or older. If you’re an outdoor adventurer willing to splurge on Apple’s most durable, feature-packed watch (and don’t already own the original Ultra), you’ll be very happy with the Ultra 2. There’s plenty of good reason to scoop up either of these watches before they’re gone, especially since they’re both discounted at most third-party stores right now.
It remains unclear how long the original Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will be unavailable. In its statement to 9to5Mac, the company says, “Should the order stand, Apple will continue to take all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that this ruling doesn’t affect the entry-level Apple Watch SE, which packs many of the same core features as Apple’s higher-end watches but lacks some of their more advanced health features (including the blood oxygen monitoring that Masimo claims Apple is infringing on). The Apple Watch SE is available for as low as $199 these days, making it a great alternative in the event that the Series 9 and Ultra 2 are truly gone for good — as well as simply a great choice for folks on a budget.
You could also keep an eye out for deals on the older but still excellent Apple Watch Series 8, which is a little harder to find but deeply discounted at some retailers (you can snag one at Walmart for just $289 as of this writing). But if you’re set on getting the original version of one of Apple’s latest and greatest watches for yourself or a loved one, you’ll want to move quickly.