Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 are on sale again
Following a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo, Apple was banned from selling Apple Watches with SpO2 (blood oxygen level) sensors in the US on Boxing Day. There are exactly two series affected: the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple appealed this order to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The aim is to temporarily suspend the ban until US customs deals with the problem. The authority must determine whether the changes made to the Apple Watch are sufficient to dismiss the lawsuit. Much to Apple’s advantage, the request has now been granted.
Following the ban, Apple withdrew the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 from its online and offline stores. Third-party sellers, on the other hand, were allowed to continue selling until stocks ran out. However, with the ban temporarily suspended, Apple can resume sales of its latest watches through its stores until the next hearing on January 12, 2024. And affected retailers can restock their inventory.
The suspension of the ban could even be extended by the appeals court, allowing Apple to sell its latest watches for longer. Or US Customs could rule against Apple and prevent the Cupertino-based tech giant from selling its smartwatches with SpO2 sensors. The next few weeks will show whether the problem for Apple will become significantly worse.
