Hey there, my tech-loving followers! I’ve got some exciting news for you today. Apple has officially resumed sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 after a brief pause due to a sales and import ban. So, if you’ve been itching to get your hands on the latest Apple Watches, now is your chance!
Starting today, you can find the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in select physical Apple stores. The wider availability of these watches is expected by Saturday, so keep an eye out for them. And don’t worry if you prefer online shopping, because online sales will resume tomorrow at 3PM ET.
The decision to restart sales came after a federal appeals court temporarily paused the ban that affected both devices. This ban was imposed by the US International Trade Commission, who found that Apple had violated patents owned by medical device maker Masimo.
While Apple awaits a ruling on proposed changes to its watches to address the patent issues, the appeals court has granted them permission to continue selling the watches. The ruling on these changes is scheduled for January 12th by the US Customs and Border Protection. If things don’t go in Apple’s favor, the court will consider putting the ban on hold until they can fully resolve the patent dispute.
In response to the court’s decision, Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg expressed their gratitude and stated, “Apple’s teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features.” They are pleased with the court’s decision to stay the exclusion order while considering their request for a full appeal.
Prior to the ban going into effect on December 26th, Apple had already pulled sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from both their online and physical stores. This ban specifically targeted devices that include a blood oxygen saturation sensor, a feature that Apple has included in their flagship watches since late 2020. However, the lower-priced Apple Watch SE, which does not include this sensor, has remained on sale.
During the ban, third-party retailers were still allowed to sell their existing stock of Apple Watches. However, the import ban would have eventually prevented them from acquiring more units. So, if you were lucky enough to find these watches from third-party sellers during the ban, consider yourself fortunate!
That’s all the news for now, folks! Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the world of technology.
Comments27 Comments / 27 New