Australian and New Zealand Consumers Among the First to Access Refurbished Models of Latest Apple Watch Iteration
Apple enthusiasts in Australia and New Zealand now have the opportunity to own the latest Apple Watch Series 9 at a discounted price, as Apple introduces refurbished models of its popular wearable device in select countries. This marks the first time the Series 9 has made its way onto Apple’s refurbished store shelves since its debut in September, offering consumers a more affordable option to experience the cutting-edge features of Apple’s latest smartwatch iteration.
The availability of refurbished Series 9 models is expected to extend to Japan and the UK in the near future, as evidenced by the appearance of a grayed-out Series 9 search filter on Apple’s refurbished store pages in these regions. While the filter is currently visible only on desktop browsers, its presence suggests that Apple is gearing up to broaden the availability of refurbished Series 9 watches to additional markets.
However, the road to offering refurbished Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the U.S. remains uncertain due to ongoing legal battles between Apple and health technology company Masimo. Following a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) last year, Apple was prohibited from importing and selling Apple Watch models equipped with a functioning Blood Oxygen app, which the ITC deemed to infringe on Masimo’s patents. Despite Apple’s appeal against the ruling, the outcome of the legal dispute remains unresolved.
In light of these legal constraints, Apple may opt to sell refurbished Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the U.S. with the Blood Oxygen app deactivated, mirroring the approach taken with new models in the country. This strategy would enable Apple to navigate regulatory hurdles while preserving the option to reactivate the app through future software updates or potential settlements with Masimo.
While the ITC’s ruling pertains exclusively to the U.S. market, consumers in other countries continue to enjoy full functionality of the Blood Oxygen app on both new and refurbished Apple Watch models. As Apple expands the availability of refurbished Series 9 watches globally, consumers worldwide can explore the latest innovations in wearable technology at a more accessible price point.
