How to Try Out and Buy an Apple Watch

How to Try Out and Buy an Apple tree Watch

It'southward OK to exist on the debate about ownership an Apple Lookout. For most of usa, wearable devices are an entirely new category, and then this isn't quite like buying a new smartphone or tablet. But if y'all're thinking most picking up Apple'southward latest device, you'll be well-served to know not just how to go your hands on one but how to also brand sure it'south the one you want.

The Basics

Starting time things first: The Apple tree Scout became available for pre-orders on April 10, with nearly 1 million people placing orders when the watch went on sale. As a upshot, Apple had to work its way through a lot of back-orders, with some people who ordered their watches in Apr only receiving them at present. Apple seems to accept worked through that initial backlog: Jeff Williams, Apple'due south senior vice president of operations, says that orders placed through May volition ship in two weeks, with the exception of the Apple Watch 42 mm Space Black Stainless Steel with Space Black Link Bracelet.

MORE: Apple tree Watch Review

If you're on the contend virtually whether to place an gild of your own, you lot can head down to the nearest Apple Stores to run across a spotter in person. The smartwatch arrived in Apple Stores on April 10, and then that you can try one on to see which model suits your fancy. Given the interest in the Apple Watch, though, you'd be advised to schedule an appointment via Apple'due south website.

You can also become the Apple Watch at All-time Buy, both online and at over 100 of the company's retail locations. Best Purchase intends to sell the article of clothing at all of its 1,050 big-box stores by the end of September. Shoppers will exist able to test out 16 different versions of the smartwatch, including its Sport and Sentry variations in 38 mm and 42 mm sizes. Best Buy will likewise carry a multifariousness of Apple Sentinel bands and accessories -- though the retailer hasn't specified whether or not it will somewhen sell the more than premium Apple tree Spotter Edition. If you order the new timepiece on BestBuy.com, you tin can choose to choice it upwards at a store or have it shipped to you at no extra cost.

Every bit of October 2015, you can at present buy an Apple Lookout at Target'due south retail locations also as Target.com. The mega-retailer carries the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport models in both 38mm and 42mm variations, but you lot'll have to look elsewhere if y'all desire the highest-stop Apple tree Watch Edition. Target likewise sells a diversity of standalone bands for existing Watch owners, as well as AppleCare warranties and magnetic charging docks.

If you can't get to an Apple Store, Target or Best Purchase in person, but are still undecided about exactly which Apple Watch will look skilful on your wrist, don't worry: you lot can sort of endeavor them on without fifty-fifty leaving home -- with an emphasis on "sort of."

The simplest pick is to burn down up the Apple Store app on your iPhone. Tap on the Apple Watch model you're interested in, and then tap on View Pricing. Nether the header yous'll run into a Compare Case Sizes link; tap on that to see both the 38mm and 42mm Apple Watches at bodily size. Pop those on your wrist and y'all'll get a decent idea of how it'll wait.

If cutting and taping newspaper is more your style, there are plenty of papercraft DIY options for trying on the Apple Watch as well.

Ordering Your Sentry

Upward until at present, if you lot wanted to buy an Apple Watch, y'all had but one option: Allow your fingers do the walking to Apple's online store. Back in Apr, Apple said information technology was limiting orders to online for the time beingness to "provide the best feel and selection to every bit many customers as nosotros can," according to Apple tree senior vice president of retail Angela Ahrendts in an April printing release.

Merely that has changed, sort of: Apple has opened upward its online reservation process, which lets y'all reserve an Apple tree Watch at a store near you and choice it up in person. Due to express in-store quantities, you must make a reservation for a day and time to pick upwardly the specific watch you want. As well, not all styles may be available in stores, so you'll want to make your reservation speedily to concur your desired edition.

Looking to buy an Apple Watch? Better head online instead of here. — Looking to buy an Apple tree Spotter? Ameliorate head online instead of here.

If don't want to run a risk your store not having the model you want, you can still purchase the Apple tree Watch online and shop for additional bands and other accessories.

More to Learn

Equally reported by MacRumors back in April, Apple has expanded its usual slate of in-store workshops with sessions devoted to the Apple tree Watch. Apple Watch Basics promises to walk people through some of the lookout'southward features like Glances, Gestures, and watchfaces. A second workshop, Stay in Bear upon With Apple Spotter concentrates on responding to Letters and postal service from your watch as well as sharing your location, taking a telephone call, and using the device's Digital Touch features. The description for each workshop encourages participants to bring their Apple Watch and their iPhone, suggesting that these volition be hands-on demos, just if you're interested in seeing how the Watch works in person, the classes provide another opportunity. Information technology's worth checking out Apple's retail site to run into if your local store has added any Apple Watch sessions.

The workshops are part of a full-court press by Apple tree to explain how to use the Apple Watch -- understandable since the device is a departure from the company'south usual assortment of computers, phones, and tablets. A calendar week earlier the Apple tree Sentry went on sale, Apple started rolling out how-to videos focusing on how to use many of the device's features.

Is The Wait Over?

Back in Apr, if you were notwithstanding on the debate about getting an Apple Watch, there was really no harm in waiting as Apple worked out its supply concatenation and early adopters twiddled their thumbs. At present that summer's here and the smartwatch is making its way to retail locations, you've got more options than ever for picking up an Apple Lookout man of your own. This turned out to be one of those instances when time was definitely on your side.

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Dan Moren is the author of multiple sci-fi books including The Caledonian Gamibt and The Aleph Extraction. He's likewise a long-fourth dimension Mac writer, having worked for Macworld and contributed to the Six Colors web log, where he writes about all things Apple tree. His work has too appeared in Popular Scientific discipline, Fast Visitor, and more