Technologies
Apple to Halt Sales of Its Newest Apple Watches. Here’s What to Know
Apple is pausing sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US as part of an ongoing legal dispute. The Apple Watch SE is unaffected.
Apple will pause sales of its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US this month as the result of an ongoing legal battle with health tech company Masimo.
The US International Trade Commission, the federal agency that handles trade-related mandates, previously issued an order that would prohibit Apple from importing the Series 9 and Ultra 2. The decision came after a US judge ruled in January that Apple infringed on Masimo patents related to the technology used in Apple’s blood oxygen sensing system. The order is currently under presidential review, but Apple is preemptively pausing sales in case the decision is upheld, the company said. The move was first reported by 9to5Mac on Monday, and Apple has since confirmed its decision to CNET.
The Apple Watch is one of Apple’s most important products, helping push the company’s wearables, home and accessories business to be its second-largest product category behind the iPhone. Apple has previously said the size of its wearables unit alone equals that of a Fortune 150 company.
Apple will stop selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 through its website on Dec. 21, while Apple stores will stop selling the watches on Dec. 24.
«Apple’s teams work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features,» the company said in a statement to CNET. «Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is pursuing a range of legal and technical options to ensure that [the] Apple Watch is available to customers.»
The company added that it will «continue to take all measures to return [the] Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible,» if the order stands.
Apple’s pause of Apple Watch sales comes during the critical holiday shopping season. Smartwatches were among the top products sold during the Black Friday period, according to holiday shopping data from Adobe.
When the judge’s ruling was made in January, Masimo CEO Joe Kiani said the decision «should help restore fairness in the market.»
Here’s what to know about Apple’s pause in sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2. This story will be updated as we receive more information.
When will Apple stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2?
Apple will stop selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 online at noon PT (3 p.m. ET) on Dec. 21, according to Apple. The company said the last day for the pickup and delivery of online orders, as well as in-store sales, will be end of day Dec. 24.
Can I still buy the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 from other retailers?
The order affects sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 through Apple specifically. But 9to5Mac points out that the order prohibits Apple from importing these watches and selling them to resellers, which means they may only be available through other retailers for a limited time.
However, the order only applies to sales in the US, meaning you should still be able to purchase the Series 9 and Ultra 2 abroad.
Best Buy told CNET it will continue selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US after Dec. 25 even if the order stands.
Which Apple Watch models are affected?
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are the only models affected. Since the legal dispute involves the blood oxygen sensing tech used in the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE will continue to be sold as usual. The Apple Watch SE is the lower-end model in Apple’s lineup, meaning it’s missing some health tracking features like blood oxygen sensing and the ability to take an ECG.
Current Apple Watches with blood oxygen monitoring, which includes any non-SE models starting with the Series 6, also won’t be affected.
What is Masimo and why is Apple pausing sales?
Masimo is a medical technology company that creates professional and consumer health products, including a smartwatch called the Masimo W1. The sales pause is the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute between Apple and Masimo, in which the latter accused Apple of infringing on its pulse oximeter patents.
What happens next?
The presidential review period ends on Dec. 25, so we’re expecting to learn more about whether the import ban will stand after that deadline. Apple also plans to appeal the ITC’s decision to the federal circuit, the company said.
It’s rare for an order like this to be vetoed, said Rochelle Dreyfuss, professor of law emerita at the New York University School of Law. But it’s happened before, specifically in 2013 when the Obama administration vetoed a ban that would have blocked the sale of certain older iPhone and iPad models in the US after the ITC found that Apple had infringed on Samsung patents.
The Apple Watch is a health product, which could work in Apple’s favor when it comes to the presidential review process, Dreyfuss said. But there are also plenty of other products that offer blood oxygen monitoring, which is the specific function at the heart of the legal dispute.
«Are there other industries that provide exactly the same service? So can Americans actually get that product?» she said. «That’s something that the industry has already decided against Apple. … So this would be the president sort of interfering with that decision,» she added, referring to if the Biden administration were to veto the ITC decision.
If I can’t buy an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, what are my alternatives?
It’s worth waiting to see what happens after the presidential review process before making any decisions. Those with an iPhone who just want a smartwatch for tracking activity, workouts and sleep should consider the $249 Apple Watch SE. While that watch lacks ECG and blood oxygen monitoring, it can still provide notifications for high and low heart rates and irregular heart rhythms.
The Apple Watch SE is the best choice for those who are most comfortable in Apple’s ecosystem, but there are also other options that work across iPhone and Android, like the Fitbit Versa 4 and Garmin Venu 3.
Those who are looking to monitor blood oxygen levels from home specifically should consider buying a standalone pulse oximeter, said Jennifer Schrack, professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
«Consumer wearables are a great supplemental way for people stay informed about their health, but they are subject to error,» Schrack said over email. «It is important to remember that they are measuring blood oxygen using PPG sensors, which can be affected by things like skin tone.»
But again, if your heart is set on the Series 9 or Ultra 2, and you aren’t in a position to buy one right now, it’s worth waiting to see whether the ITC’s order stands before making a decision.
Technologies
Aflac Reveals Just How Big Its Data Breach Really Was
The insurance company says the compromised information included Social Security numbers and health insurance information.
Following up on a data breach that it first reported in June, insurance provider Aflac revealed in December that the incursion compromised the personal data of 22.65 million people. In its update, the company said that files containing personal data related to customers, beneficiaries and employees may have included contact information, claims, health information and Social Security numbers.
Aflac said it addressed the breach within hours and began notifying customers soon after. On its homepage, Aflac has a link to a PDF document that includes details on what it’s offering customers to address the breach, including 24 free months of CyEx cybersecurity services.
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The service includes credit monitoring, medical information protection services and identity theft monitoring.
In a press release, the company downplayed the effects of the data breach. «To date, Aflac is not aware of any fraudulent use of personal information and —along with third-party partners —will continue to monitor any fraudulent activity,» it said.
A representative for Aflac told CNET the company has no further comment beyond what it has posted on its website.
The businesses you interact with — insurers, health care providers, financial services companies, retailers and so on — are a trove of personal information about about you that cybercriminals are constantly trying to access. Some ways you can protect your private data include locking your Social Security number, improving your passwords and being on guard against phishing.
Technologies
I Tested the Huawei Pura X: This Wide-Screen Flip Phone Is Refreshing and Fun
Huawei’s Pura X is the wildest flip phone to exist and one of the only two foldable phones that I’ve loved watching videos on.
I’ve tested several flip phones in the past, but I never stuck to any. My lifestyle doesn’t require a phone that folds into a smaller footprint to fit inside my pocket. There’s a market for them, no doubt, but when I’m using a foldable phone, I want it to expand the capabilities of my current phone. And that’s why I’ve loved using the Huawei Pura X.
Most flip phones are narrower and taller than traditional smartphones. They have big 6.9-inch screens with a 21:9 aspect ratio, but the Pura X is unique by design. It has a smaller 6.3-inch display with a wider 16:10 aspect ratio, making it an ideal screen for reading and video consumption. The Huawei Pura X is a refreshing take on flip phones. It is closer to a mini book-style foldable than a flip phone. In fact, I have enjoyed using it more than the Motorola Razrs and Galaxy Z Flips of the world.
Huawei Pura X: What’s it like to use a wide-screen flip phone?
I couldn’t use the Pura X as my primary phone because it is a China-only device. So, most of its preloaded apps are in Chinese. I installed a few Google apps like Chrome and YouTube, among others, to make the experience as close as possible to my main device.
In the last 10 days, I’ve loved consuming content, both video and written, on the Huawei flip phone. It combines the pocketability of a flip phone with the readability of a book-style fold in a single device — while also delivering a better video-watching experience than both of them.
The Pura X unfolds to a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with support for a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, 2,120×1,320-pixel resolution and 2,500 nits peak brightness for supported HDR content. These specs might seem similar to the iPhone 17, Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 10, but the Pura X has a wider 16:10 aspect ratio (versus 20:9 on slab phones). Its biggest benefit is immediately noticeable when watching movies and YouTube videos.
The video consumption experience on foldable phones typically isn’t ideal. They usually have huge letterboxing (thick black borders) on either top and bottom (on the Galaxy Z Fold 7) or left and right (on the Galaxy Z Flip 7). Movies shot in 21:9 fare better on flip phones but worse on book-style foldables. The Huawei Pura X minimizes this letterboxing with its 16:10 screen, while also offering a similar on-screen watchable area.
This might surprise many, but as you can see from the above photo, you get a larger video viewing area on Huawei’s 6.3-inch display than Samsung and Motorola’s 6.9-inch flip phone screens. In fact, 16:9 YouTube videos on the Pura X are almost as big as on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (in the slightly wider horizontal orientation). This is only the second time I’ve loved watching videos on a foldable phone (the first was the Huawei Mate XT trifold phone, also for its increased viewing area with a 16:11 aspect ratio, when fully unfolded).
It also provides a pleasing reading and web browsing experience — you just need to rotate the phone in vertical orientation. By design, the Pura X is slippery, and its wider design doesn’t help the in-hand grip. Thankfully, it weighs under 200 grams, so it isn’t as heavy as modern flagship phones. I got used to it within a few hours.
Another learning curve was getting used to the placement of buttons and unfolding it like a Fold (from the right side) instead of a Flip (from the bottom). The latter was easy, but I still struggle with the former.
When you unfold the Pura X, you need to rotate it by 90 degrees to change its orientation to use vertically. Huawei’s user interface doesn’t allow you to use the phone horizontally. So, every time I open the Pura X, its volume rockers and power button (with a built-in fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication) swap places.
The fingerprint sensor that resides on the natural resting place on my thumb (when the phone is folded) moves to the top of the phone when it is unfolded. I have added my index finger data to unlock the phone, and it might not be a big deal in the long term, once my muscle memory has gotten used to it. But so far, it has been slightly bothersome to get a mention here.
The rest of the specs and features
The Huawei Pura X has a 3.5-inch OLED cover screen with a 980×980-pixel resolution and the same dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. It isn’t as large as Samsung and Motorola flip phones, but it can run a full-fledged browser and multiple first-party apps. This 1:1 display is also good enough to capture selfies using the rear cameras, of which you get three.
Huawei has included a 50-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.6 aperture. It is accompanied by a 40-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide-angle sensor and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with support for a 3.5x optical zoom.
For context, most flip phones have only two rear cameras, but the Pura X’s optics are as versatile as a slab phone. The camera performance is similar to what you’d expect from a Huawei phone: smooth and brightened skin tones, good dynamic range and rich details.
The Huawei Pura X is powered by last year’s Kirin 9020 chipset and has up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. My unit runs on HarmonyOS 6.0, which is smooth and fluid in day-to-day use. It packs a 4,720-mAh battery with support for 66-watt wired superfast charging and 40-watt wireless fast charging.
The Pura X is for those who want the best video consumption experience on a foldable phone, without compromising portability and cameras. It was launched earlier this year at a starting price of 7,499 yuan (roughly $1,065) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage version. However, it received a price cut recently and is now selling for 6,899 yuan (roughly $980).
After using the Huawei Pura X, I can confidently say that wide-screen foldable phones have their own place in the niche category. It has made me more excited for the rumored 4:3 iPhone Fold and Samsung «Wide Fold» in 2026.
Technologies
Verum Messenger Introduces Its Own Next-Generation eSIM Technology
Verum Messenger Introduces Its Own Next-Generation eSIM Technology
Digital mobile connectivity is evolving rapidly, and eSIM is becoming a key element of this transformation. The Verum Messenger team has developed and launched its own eSIM technology, designed for users who value freedom of communication, the absence of roaming, and independence from operator restrictions.
Verum eSIM is a virtual SIM card that works without a physical carrier and provides mobile internet access in different countries around the world under unified conditions. Users simply install the eSIM on a smartphone, tablet, Wi-Fi router, or any other supported device — without visiting a mobile store and without replacing a SIM card. From the very beginning, the technology was designed as a global solution, not tied to a single operator or region.
Verum eSIM offers a range of regional and international plans: World eSIM (global coverage), London eSIM, USA eSIM, Euro eSIM, Africa eSIM, Türkiye eSIM, Canada eSIM, Balkan eSIM, Ukraine eSIM. The key difference is the absence of traditional roaming. Users receive stable mobile internet in multiple countries without sudden tariff changes or unexpected charges.
One of the core features of the technology is its operation without a physical SIM card. This minimizes dependence on local operators, allows users to bypass network restrictions and blocks, and enables effective use of eSIM in countries with strict internet censorship, including Russia. When using only the Verum eSIM profile, connection flexibility and privacy levels are significantly increased.
A separate advantage of Verum eSIM is full support for eSIM-enabled Wi-Fi routers. All available plans can be used not only on smartphones but also on compatible eSIM routers, providing internet access to multiple devices at once. Such a router can serve as the primary internet source at home, in the office, while traveling, in cars, on yachts, or in temporary locations, automatically connecting to available networks in different countries without being tied to local operators.
The Verum team focuses on affordable and transparent pricing. Plans are structured to be competitive compared to local operators and traditional international roaming. Users know the data cost in advance and do not encounter hidden fees.
For user convenience, Verum eSIM supports a wide range of payment methods, including bank cards, cryptocurrencies, and alternative payment solutions. This makes the service accessible to users from different countries with various financial instruments.
Verum Messenger and Verum eSIM are not just an eSIM service, but a step toward rethinking mobile connectivity as a global, open, and independent technology. No roaming, no physical SIM card, no territorial limitations — a new standard of mobile internet, truly worldwide.
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