Apple Wins Fight to Keep Watches in U.S. Stores
Synopsis
Apple has scored a significant legal victory after the U.S. International Trade Commission rejected Masimo’s attempt to bring back an import ban on Apple Watches. On April 17, 2026, the tribunal ruled that Apple’s redesigned blood-oxygen feature does not infringe on Masimo’s patents. The current design allows users to take oxygen readings on their watch while viewing the results on an iPhone. While the two companies remain locked in other multi-million dollar legal battles, this ruling ensures that Apple’s Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models will stay on U.S. store shelves for the foreseeable future.
A U.S. trade court ruled in Apple’s favour, preventing a renewed effort to ban imports of Apple Watches The ruling lets Apple continue to sell its popular line of smartwatches after a protracted legal fight.
Key Highlights
- The International Trade Commission (ITC), ruled in favour of Apple on Friday
- Med-tech company Masimo wanted Apple Watch imports to be prohibited.
- Apple’s new watch design does not infringe Masimo patents, judges ruled.
- New watches now display blood-oxygen data on iPhones rather than the watch.
The court ruling in Washington
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) formally ended a case against medical technology company Masimo on Friday April 17, 2026. The tribunal had also been asked by Masimo to reinstate the import ban against the Apple Watch introduced in late 2023. But the ITC refused to reconsider an earlier ruling from a lower court, which upheld that Apple’s most recent watch generations are not barred from being sold in the U.S. Apple said in a statement thanking the tribunal that the move guarantees it can continue to provide important health features to its customers.
Why the watch had to change to be compliant with the law (Apple Insider)
The long-running battle between the two companies began years ago when Masimo claimed that Apple had stolen technology used for measuring blood-oxygen levels. Apple had to modify how that function operated in order not to be prevented from being sold in U.S. stores. The early watches displayed your oxygen level directly on your watch. As of an internal redesign approved last August, the watch still measures but sends results merely to the Health app of a paired iPhone or iPad. Apple avoided Masimo’s legal claims by relocating the data and how it displays away from the watch itself.
The win comes as a huge relief for Apple, which has been under seven years of relentless legal pressure from Masimo. The California court case saw Masimo win a $634 million verdict last November for patent theft, but the trade tribunal’s ultimate decision is what’s keeping those watches on store shelves. Masmo does have the option to appeal this latest decision to a court further up in Washington, but for the moment, Apple goes on business as usual without worrying about another import ban.
Future impact on wearable tech
The case illustrates just how tricky it can be for tech companies seeking to add medical functionality without tripping over patent hurdles, experts say. As watches get even more like mini medical devices, manufacturers will have to be increasingly careful in how they craft their sensors. For Apple, its caring future will be all about how it may appeal the $634 million fine while Masimo continues to battle in other courts. The ruling establishes the precedent that “software workarounds,” such as transferring data to a phone, may provide a legitimate means for circumventing hardware patent bans.
FAQs
- Apple Watch availability in the U.S. Can I buy an Apple Watch?
Yes, you can still buy Apple Watches in stores because the most recent effort to ban them was denied.
- Is the blood-oxygen feature still functional?
Yes, but on newer models you have to see your oxygen results in the iPhone rather than the watch screen.
- Why did Masimo wish to melt away Apple Watches?
The lawsuit claims that Apple took the secret technology Masimo created to measure oxygen in the blood.
- Which Apple Watch models were the most affected by this?
The argument predominantly impacted newer types such as the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2.
- What comes next in the legal battle?
Masimo has the option to challenge this ruling, and both companies remain engaged in a separate court brawl about a $634 million fine.
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