Sales of Apple’s newest and most advanced smartwatches are set to resume in the United States after the tech company filed an emergency appeal with authorities.
Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches had been blocked since October while a dispute raised by Californian device maker Masimo, which had accused Apple of poaching its staff and technology, was considered.
The ban could be back, but is not expected to dampen overall sales of smartwatches from all makers in the United States and the rest of the world this year.
Tech analyst Canalsys expects 10% growth in global smartwatch shipments this year following a 9% contraction in 2023.
“The smartwatch sector is poised for a rebound in 2024 with an anticipated shipment of 83 million units,” predicts Jack Leathem, research manager at Canalys.
“Vendors aim to boost shipment revenues by promoting advanced smartwatches with upcoming hardware improvements, including significant battery life enhancements and the potential arrival of micro-LED screens on premium devices. These enhancements also encompass novel fitness and health capabilities like blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection, which are expected to become new industry standards when introduced by Apple in the next 10th-anniversary line of Apple watches,” he adds.
The shift to more advanced smartwatches is expected to be fastest in emerging regions, with the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe expected to see a 27% and 22% respective increase in smartwatch shipments in 2024.
