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US Apple Watch ban is preventing repairs for some older models

You currently can’t get replacements for most out-of-warranty Apple Watch models.

Apple Watch Series 9 in purple background
Image: Apple/KnowTechie

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Keeping its promise, Apple has officially halted the online sales of its best-selling smartwatches – the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2. But the said ban is also preventing repairs for several older Apple Watch models.

The report comes directly from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, who says Apple has already informed its services teams via a memo to stop replacing out-of-warranty watch models going back to the Apple Watch Series 6. 

Apple is simply complying with an ITC decision banning Apple from importing these models, which comes back to the patent dispute concerning the SpO2 sensors on the wearables with the medical device maker Masimo.

So, if you have a broken Apple Watch 6, 7, 8, 9, Ultra, or Ultra 2 and want to replace a part, there’s no way to repair it through Apple. However, the company is still offering software advice for the impacted models. 

In addition, the company has coached the service representatives to tell the affected consumers that they would be informed when Apple starts selling replacement parts for older watches.

Unfortunately, with the ban, Apple also has to stop exchanging watches that were purchased before the ban. The retail staff have reportedly been informed, but Apple will replace accessories like the watch bands. 

Retail store Apple Watch ban will go live on December 24

Apple announced the Apple Watch ban a few days ago, and the company has already stopped selling the latest Apple Watches in its online store.

While the Apple Watch models are no longer available on Apple’s online stores, they are still available at physical Apple stores. 

However, the company also intends to suspend sales from around 270 retail outlets starting December 24 before a scheduled import ban goes into effect on December 25.

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Saurav loves writing and tech. So, after engineering, he didn't look back and embarked on a journey to become a tech writer. Saurav has worked for various tech websites across the globe. Saurav has recently joined Know Techie and is proud to be a part of it.

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