The latest Apple Watches including the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, are once again available for purchase directly from Apple. Some physical Apple stores have already resumed sales today, and broader availability is anticipated by Saturday. Online sales are set to recommence tomorrow at 3 PM ET, according to Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg.
This development follows a federal appeals court decision to temporarily lift the sales and import ban that affected both devices. Apple had been prohibited from selling these products in the US after the US International Trade Commission determined that the company had infringed upon patents owned by medical device maker Masimo.
The appeals court’s decision allows Apple to resume selling its watches temporarily, pending the outcome of proposed modifications to address the patent concerns. A ruling on these changes by the US Customs and Border Protection is expected on January 12th. If the proposed alterations are not approved, the court will then decide whether to delay the ban until it can make a final ruling on the patent dispute, potentially extending the ban for several more months. The latest Apple Watches
“Apple’s teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features and we are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal,” Rothberg said in an emailed statement.
Apple pulled sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from its online and physical stores ahead of the ban going into effect on December 26th. The ban covers devices that include a blood oxygen saturation sensor. Apple has included one on flagship watches since late 2020, with the Series 6. Only the lower-priced Apple Watch SE doesn’t include one and has been able to remain on sale.