The new year did not start well for the Apple Watch, as a patent dispute with medical technology firm Masimo led Apple to disable the blood oxygen sensor in every Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sold. That must have damaged a firm with so much money and power.
However, this does not imply you should stop purchasing Apple Watches, at least according to CEO Tim Cook. In a new interview with CNBC (via AppleInsider), Cook stated that users should not hesitate to spend money on the company’s smartwatches. During the conversation, the Apple CEO stated, “There are many reasons to buy the watch even without the blood oxygen sensor.”
To be fair to Cook, he is not completely wrong. The Apple Watch is one of the greatest smartwatches on the market right now and has been for years, and it’s filled with class-leading features that set it apart from the competition. Even without the now-disabled monitor, it has a lot to offer.
However, it seemed odd for the CEO of a huge corporation like Apple to feel the need to remind customers why they should purchase one of its most popular items. Perhaps Apple is feeling the pressure from its patent issue with Masimo, and we can see why.
No end is in sight
The passage above was not all Cook had to say about the subject. When asked if Apple intended to settle with Masimo and license its patented technology, Cook was unequivocal: “We’re focused on appeal,” the CEO stated, seemingly ruling out the possibility of a quick resolution to the proceedings. This means that the litigation could last several months or longer. With no end in sight, Apple’s blood oxygen monitor may remain unavailable for an extended period of time.
This could potentially reduce its appeal to some people. While Cook is correct that there are many other compelling reasons to purchase an Apple Watch, if you wanted one exclusively for the blood oxygen sensor, your alternatives are now more limited.
However, this does not rule out the possibility of purchasing an Apple Watch with a monitor anyplace. Apple may have been prohibited from selling watches with the feature, but third-party merchants such as Amazon and Best Buy can continue to trade current stock. So, if you truly want this functionality, you can go there and get one instead.
