Apple resumes sales of latest Apple Watches after ban lifted

Update Dec. 28th, 2023: Apple has resumed the sale of its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 after a federal appeals court issued a temporary stay on an import ban. A dispute with medical device maker Masimo over blood oxygen monitoring technology led to the watches being briefly removed from shelves and the company’s website. Apple has appealed the broader patent case, and sales have now been allowed to resume. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will review Apple’s proposed changes to the watch models to avoid further patent issues on January 12th. Customers can once again purchase the newest Apple Watches after a one-week sales ban.

Original article below:

Apple customers searching for the company’s latest smartwatches can breathe a sigh of relief, as Apple has resumed sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 after a temporary ban was just lifted.

It’s been a rollercoaster few weeks for fans of Apple’s popular wearable devices. Just days before Christmas, a devastating blow came when the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Apple was violating patents held by medical device maker Masimo. Apple was prohibited from selling or importing its newest Apple Watch models, which feature blood oxygen monitoring capabilities that infringed on Masimo’s intellectual property rights.

Apple complied with the ban, pulling all Series 9 and Ultra 2 models from store shelves on December 26th, just as holiday shopping reached its peak. For days, customers were left wondering if the company’s hottest new gadgets would be lost forever behind a wall of legal red tape. Apple stock dipped slightly amid fears that sales could take a hit in 2023 if the matter wasn’t resolved quickly.

But earlier today, the U.S. Court of Appeals provided a glimmer of hope, issuing an emergency ruling to pause the ban until the appeals process plays out further. Apple immediately mobilized to resume sales, bringing the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models back to some retail stores by the afternoon. More locations will offer the watches by Saturday morning.

“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,” said Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg.

The company also confirmed that online sales will start back up tomorrow at 3 pm ET on Apple.com, finally allowing customers around the country to purchase the devices. This means third-party retailers like Best Buy and Target, which were still permitted to sell remaining inventory, can eventually get the watches back in stock too once imports resume.

While Apple isn’t in the clear yet, fans can enjoy their Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches now with peace of mind. The Court of Appeals will decide next if it wants to further postpone the ban until the patent dispute gets resolved. If so, Apple could have many months to adjust its technology and comply with patents before any sales ban goes back into effect.

For now, consumers searching for the perfect last-minute gift or New Year’s fitness commitment can safely purchase Apple’s innovative smartwatches once again. Friday morning marked a fresh start and a big win for Apple in its legal standoff, allowing its revolutionary health and wellness technologies to remain accessible on the open market.

Related /