The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are now available to purchase in select Apple retail stores in the United States, with online sales resuming today.
Apple has managed to secure a temporary stay on the ITC’s import and sales ban of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the United States.
The import and sales ban is currently on hold until January 10. Meanwhile, the Cupertino firm has submitted a watchOS software update to avoid the patent dispute with Masimo. On January 12, the government will determine whether this is enough to allow sales to continue. If not, the ban will go into effect again.
Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales resume
Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg gave a statement to The Verge:
We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year. Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States at Apple Stores starting today and from apple.com tomorrow by 12pm PT.
The devices are back in some of Apple’s brick-and-mortar US stores, with full availability expected by Saturday, December 30. The online Apple store will resume sales of the two watches starting today, December 28, by 12pm PT.
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.
The longstanding dispute between Apple and Masimo concerns the blood oxygen sensor and monitoring technology that Masimo had developed. Masimo alleges Apple infringed on its patents while poaching about 20 staffers.