A U.S. appeals court has temporarily granted Samsung Electronics a reprieve on the sales ban of its Galaxy Nexus 7 smartphones in the U.S.

U.S. media report that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit suspended the injunction approved last month by Judge Lucy Koh at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Apple was ordered to respond to the court panel in Washington by July 12th. While the court considers Apple's appeal, it will decide whether or not to maintain the stay of the injunction against the Nexus.

Meanwhile, the appeals court refused to suspend the injunction on Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Tab 10.l in a separate decision.