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Short answer: Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 refurbished models are already sold through Apple’s U.S. store; they are not merely “coming soon.” The watches were pulled into Apple’s patent dispute with Masimo because of their blood-oxygen technology. Some U.S.-sold units originally shipped with Blood Oxygen disabled, but Apple announced a redesigned experience for some of those watches through iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. Eligibility depends on the exact watch, region, and software—not simply on the fact that it is refurbished.
What happened to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2?
Series 9 and Ultra 2 launched with hardware for measuring blood oxygen. Masimo alleged that Apple infringed pulse-oximetry patents, and a U.S. International Trade Commission exclusion order restricted importation and sales of certain Apple Watch models with the feature enabled. This was not a blanket ban on every Apple Watch or every function.
- Apple introduced Series 9 and Ultra 2 with blood-oxygen hardware.
- After the ITC action, Apple stopped selling affected watches through U.S. channels for a period.
- Apple resumed U.S. sales of affected configurations with the original Blood Oxygen feature disabled.
- Apple later announced a redesigned U.S. experience after a U.S. Customs ruling.
The March 20, 2024 report that described refurbished models as “coming to the U.S.” was therefore substantially accurate at the time, but that wording is now outdated: Apple’s U.S. refurbished catalog lists both generations. The original report also said the watches initially lacked a working pulse oximeter feature.
Are refurbished Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches available now?
Yes. Apple’s U.S. refurbished store includes Series 9 and Ultra 2 filters, and Apple has listed specific Ultra 2 configurations for sale. Inventory is configuration-specific and limited, so a model can disappear without notice.
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- S9 SiP Processor: Advanced processor improves overall performance and enables on-device Siri functionality.
For example, an Apple listing showed a 49mm GPS + Cellular Ultra 2 at $589, reduced from a displayed $699. That is a price snapshot from the cited listing, not a guaranteed current price or permanent MSRP. Check the live pages before buying:
What Blood Oxygen does on a U.S. refurbished watch
Original-feature units
Apple said its 2025 change does not affect watches that already included the original Blood Oxygen feature. Units purchased outside the U.S. were also not affected by the U.S.-specific change.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
U.S. units sold with the feature disabled
On August 14, 2025, Apple announced that some U.S. Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 watches without the original feature could receive a redesigned Blood Oxygen experience after updating the paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and the watch to watchOS 11.6.1. The watch records sensor data; the paired iPhone performs the calculation and displays results in the Health app’s Respiratory section. Apple’s announcement does not say that every refurbished unit qualifies.
Blood Oxygen readings are wellness information, not a diagnosis or substitute for medical care. “Contains the sensor” and “has an enabled Blood Oxygen feature” are not interchangeable descriptions.
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![Apple Watch Series 9 [GPS 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with Storm Blue Sport Band S/M (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41kWVSqR4rL._SL160_.jpg)
- WHY APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 — Your essential companion for a healthy life is now even more powerful. The S9 chip enables a superbright display and a magical new way to quickly and easily interact with your Apple Watch without touching the screen. Advanced health, safety, and activity features provide powerful insights and help when you need it. And redesigned apps in watchOS give you more information at a glance.
- CARBON NEUTRAL — An aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 paired with the latest Sport Loop is carbon neutral. Learn more about Apple’s commitment to the environment at apple.com/2030.
- ADVANCED HEALTH FEATURES — Keep an eye on your blood oxygen. Take an ECG anytime. Get notifications if you have an irregular heart rhythm. See how much time you spent in REM, Core, or Deep sleep with sleep stages. Temperature sensing provides insights into overall wellbeing and cycle tracking. And take note of your state of mind to help build emotional awareness and resilience.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS PARTNER — The Workout app gives you a range of ways to train plus advanced metrics for more insights about your workout performance. And Apple Watch comes with three months of Apple Fitness+ free.
- INNOVATIVE SAFETY FEATURES — Fall Detection and Crash Detection can connect you with emergency services in the event of a hard fall or a severe car crash. And Emergency SOS lets you call for help with the press of a button.
Apple Certified Refurbished versus retailer-refurbished
“Refurbished” is not a universal grade. Apple’s certified program and retailer programs can differ in testing, parts, battery disclosures, packaging, warranty, returns and seller responsibility.
| Source | Example observed | Coverage and caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Certified Refurbished | Ultra 2 49mm GPS + Cellular listed at $589 versus $699 shown price | Apple describes functionality testing, replacement of defective modules found during testing, cleaning, inspection, repackaging and final quality assurance. The cited Ultra 2 listing includes a one-year limited warranty, 14-day returns and AppleCare eligibility. Supplies are limited. See listing |
| Best Buy Geek Squad Certified Refurbished | Series 9 41mm GPS listed at $229.99 | The cited listing states a 90-day warranty. Confirm condition, battery information and AppleCare eligibility separately. See listing |
| Target Certified Refurbished | Series 9 41mm GPS listed at $294.99 | Target describes multi-point testing and says packaging may be aftermarket. This is Target’s program, not Apple Certified Refurbished. See listing |
| Walmart Restored | Series 9 45mm GPS + Cellular listings | Terms vary by marketplace seller. Check seller identity, warranty, battery disclosure and returns on the exact listing. See listing |
The retailer prices above are snapshots from the cited pages, not a controlled comparison: case size, connectivity, band, cosmetic grade and warranty differ.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch Series 9 [GPS, 45mm] - Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, S/M (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41HNzDmz9wL._SL160_.jpg)
- S9 SiP Processor: Advanced processor improves overall performance and enables on-device Siri functionality.
Series 9 or Ultra 2?
| Apple Watch Series 9 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Smaller, lighter everyday use and lower cost | Outdoor use, larger display, longer battery life and rugged hardware |
| Hardware example | Standard Apple Watch design; GPS and GPS + Cellular configurations exist | Cited listing: 49mm titanium case, S9 SiP, 64GB, GPS + Cellular, up to 36 hours, 100m water resistance and IP6X dust resistance |
| Trade-offs | Shorter battery life and less rugged aluminum options | Higher price, larger/heavier case and possible cellular-service charges |
Ultra 2 is poor value if you only need notifications, activity tracking and basic workouts. Series 9 is the more practical choice for smaller wrists and ordinary daily wear.
Checklist before you buy
- Identify the exact unit: confirm Series 9 or Ultra 2, case size, GPS versus GPS + Cellular, band and U.S. sales region.
- Read the Blood Oxygen wording: look for explicit feature availability; do not infer it from the presence of a sensor.
- Check software: the redesigned U.S. experience requires iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1, plus a compatible model.
- Verify iPhone compatibility: current requirements can change; check Apple’s compatibility information rather than relying on an old retailer listing.
- Check Activation Lock: the previous owner must remove the watch from their Apple Account before you keep it.
- Ask about battery condition: neither a retailer label nor Apple’s certification should be treated as a promise of a new battery unless the listing says so.
- Confirm cellular support: GPS + Cellular models can be carrier- and region-dependent and may require a separate plan.
- Compare the protection: note warranty length, return window, AppleCare eligibility, seller identity and whether packaging is aftermarket.
- Inspect on arrival: pair the watch, update it, test charging and sensors, confirm the advertised configuration and return it promptly if Activation Lock or feature status is wrong.
Who should buy Apple’s refurbished models?
Apple Certified Refurbished makes sense when
- A one-year Apple limited warranty and AppleCare eligibility justify paying more.
- You want Apple’s stated testing, packaging and direct support.
- You can wait for the right configuration to return to limited inventory.
A retailer can make sense when
- The discount is substantially larger.
- You need a particular size, band or cellular configuration immediately.
- Local pickup or a retailer’s return policy is more valuable than Apple’s coverage.
Buyers unwilling to verify battery health, seller terms, Activation Lock and Blood Oxygen status should avoid the least-transparent marketplace listings.
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every refurbished U.S. Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 have Blood Oxygen?
No. Apple says only some affected U.S. units can receive the redesigned experience, and eligibility depends on the exact model and required iPhone and watch software.
Is Apple Certified Refurbished the same as Geek Squad, Target or Walmart refurbished?
No. Each program has its own testing, packaging, warranty, returns and seller terms. Compare the exact listing rather than the word “certified.”
The Bottom Line
Refurbished Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models are already legitimate U.S. purchases. The important question is not whether they are arriving, but which region and configuration you are buying, whether Blood Oxygen is available for that unit, and whether the warranty and return terms justify the price.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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