Apple has restarted sales of its latest smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, following a temporary reprieve from a federal appeals court. The devices will be available in select Apple retail stores starting today, with broader availability expected by Saturday. Online sales will resume tomorrow by 3 PM ET, according to Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg.
The decision comes hours after the court paused a sales and import ban imposed due to a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) had previously ruled that Apple violated Masimo’s patents, leading to the ban.
Court Grants Temporary Relief as Apple Awaits Key Ruling
The appeals court allowed Apple to continue sales while the company awaits a decision on whether proposed software changes will resolve the patent conflict. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to rule on the modifications by January 12. If the changes are not approved, the court may further delay the ban while it reviews the broader patent dispute—potentially extending the sales window for months.
In a statement, Rothberg emphasized Apple’s commitment to innovation in health and wellness technology: “Apple’s teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features. We are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals has stayed the exclusion order while considering our request.”
The temporary stay provides relief for Apple during the critical holiday shopping season, though the long-term outcome remains uncertain pending further legal developments.
