Previously, there were reports that Apple stopped selling the latest Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States. The company's decision came after a dispute with Masimo over patent infringement of the blood oxygen function. Currently, the company has decided to resume sales of these two watches in the United States, but will no longer provide blood oxygen functions. However, if you are in the market for a new Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can simply look at the model number of the device to tell whether it has blood oxygen function.
Here's how to check if your Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 has blood oxygen functionality in the United States.
If you plan to order an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple’s online store now, chances are the wearable device won’t have blood oxygen functionality. However, new Apple Watches purchased from third-party sellers such as eBay or Amazon may come with this feature. That's because the wearables may already be in stock before Apple's decision comes to light, so don't be surprised if you see a price increase on these models.
Still, if you're thinking of buying an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, there's a way to find out if the wearable has blood oxygen capabilities. All you have to do is check the Apple Watch part number. The company said new Apple Watch models without blood oxygen functionality end in the "LW/A" string. You can check the model number in the Apple Watch app settings on your iPhone, and the model number can also be seen on the wearable's box. This way you can check the feature's availability before purchasing.
The model number consists of eight letters and numbers, with a slash before the last character. If you have purchased an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, visit the dedicated Apple Watch app on your iPhone and navigate to General > About > Model. If the model number shows A2978, click to view the part number.
The above are all the steps to check whether Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 has blood oxygen function. The process is very simple and requires no third-party applications. Apple's decision not to include blood oxygen functionality will only impact sales of the new device. This means that if you have the right model, the company's latest decision won't affect your Apple Watch's existing functionality.
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