The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are back on sale after a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. lifted an import and sales ban. The ban only impacted consumers purchasing directly from Apple, as the devices were still available from third-party retailers. The ban could be reinstated on January 10, when the International Trade Commission (ITC) decides whether to grant Apple a longer pause, or on January 13, when the same agency makes a decision regarding Apple’s redesign of both smartwatches.
At the heart of the issue is a lawsuit issued by medical technology company Masimo, alleging that the blood oxygen sensors used in newer Apple Watch devices violate two patents. It also accused Apple of stealing trade secrets and poaching employees. The lawsuit led to Apple offering a software fix, but it was ruled to be a hardware issue, leading Apple to redesign the blood oxygen sensor. The Apple Watch SE was not part of this discussion, as it doesn’t have a blood oxygen sensor.
Apple has stated that the ban would cause “irreparable harm” to the company, as the Watch side of Apple’s business generates around $17 billion a year. We’ll keep you updated as this case moves forward. In the meantime, purchase the wearables while you still can. This article contains affiliate links; if you click and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
