Apple Watch blood-oxygen removal in the US, via @markgurman — confirmed
@markgurman said on Jan 15, 2024 that modified watches were heading to US stores. Apple began selling them on Jan 18.
Leaked on 15 January 2024
On Jan 15, 2024, @markgurman posted that Apple had begun shipping modified Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 units to US retail stores, and that Masimo said US Customs had approved a software change removing blood oxygen. (source: Bloomberg)
The Verge reported the same day that the watches would drop blood oxygen features to get around the import ban. On Jan 18, Apple started selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 without the feature; units sold in the US from that date carry part numbers ending in LW/A, and an Apple spokesperson sent a statement.
Confirmed. The change applied to watches sold in the US by Apple on or after Jan 18, 2024.