Apple Watch In-Store Reservations Available Beginning April 10

Apple on Friday updated its online store with instructions on how to purchase the Apple Watch, reiterating that the wrist-worn device can be ordered online or reserved for in-store pickup. The new section appears to confirm that Apple Watch in-store reservations will be available beginning April 10, allowing customers to reserve a specific Apple Watch for pickup at an Apple Store beginning April 24.

How to Buy Apple Watch
The wording and timing of the new section suggests that Apple Watch in-store reservations will be available April 10, a move that would generate more foot traffic in Apple Stores on Apple Watch launch day. Nevertheless, there remains a slim possibility that reservations will begin on April 24. Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment, although we will update this post if we receive confirmation.

Last week, Apple Store training documents obtained by MacRumors indicated that Apple will not allow walk-in purchases for the Apple Watch upon launch, meaning that reserving the wrist-worn device for pickup at a specified date and time will be required initially. Walk-in customers can join the queue for a try-on appointment, after which they can order the Apple Watch online or make a reservation for in-store pickup.

Apple Watch pre-orders kick off at 12:01 AM Pacific on April 10 in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Apple has added "Guided Tour" videos to its website that outline various functions of the Apple Watch, while we've prepared detailed guides on how to pre-order the Apple Watch and what to expect at a try-on appointment.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Spotlight

Report: Apple to Launch These New Products in 2026

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:34 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch at least 15 new products in 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman outlined what to expect from Apple in 2026 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter. He said the company is heading "into one of its most pivotal years in recent memory," with the rollout of major new Apple Intelligence features, intense regulatory pressure on the App Store,...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.1 With Liquid Glass Toggle, Slide to Stop Alarm, New Apple Intelligence Languages and More

Monday November 3, 2025 1:11 pm PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.1, the first major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.1 comes over a month after iOS 26 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.1 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General >...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

New Version of Siri to 'Lean' on Google Gemini

Sunday November 2, 2025 6:06 am PST by
In his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today provided an update on the status of Apple Intelligence and the plans for it in 2026. Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod...
Early Black Friday Deals 2

The Best Early Black Friday Apple Deals

Sunday November 2, 2025 10:04 am PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Likely Launching Soon

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:49 am PST by
A new Apple TV and HomePod mini could launch as soon as this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple retail stores are planning an overnight refresh on the evening of November 11, where changes will be made after closing, such as refreshing displays and placing new products for the following day. The timing of the overnight...
Finder Siri Feature

Apple's New Siri Will Be Powered By Google Gemini

Wednesday November 5, 2025 11:57 am PST by
The smarter, more capable version of Siri that Apple is developing will be powered by Google Gemini, reports Bloomberg. Apple will pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model that was developed by Google. For context, parameters are a measure of how a model understands and responds to queries. More parameters generally means more...

Top Rated Comments

BeyondtheTech Avatar
138 months ago
What I still don't get is that Apple already has all of our hundreds of millions of credit and debit cards linked to our iTunes and Apple ID accounts, yet they want us to manually jam their servers at the stroke of midnight or 3AM to place an order they know we already want.

We're automatically billed for our monthly subscriptions to iCloud, iTunes Match, in-App Purchases, Newsstand, etc. So, how about this? Just make a button next to the product's favorite ("heart") button that says, "yes, I like this product enough for you to automatically charge my credit card and preorder or ship it to me as soon as it's available." No more waiting up until 3AM EDT, or queuing up on line the night before at the local Apple Store. Automate the process and give us an preorder confirmation email we can wake up to.

Is Apple still so insecure that they need to generate media headlines that "lines are out the door" and "the servers couldn't handle the capacity" of everyone trying to place online orders? If Apple is all about the positive customer experience, having to go through this periodic ritual can't be a totally positive experience for everyone.

Frankly, I've been doing this for eight years since the first iPhone and iPad releases, and I'm a bit tired. I would appreciate someone on Apple's backend systems or infrastructure to accommodate something like this to be done. Billions of dollars of profit every year, and they still stick to a rudimentary preordering/purchasing process. How much more in profit would they benefit from if they automated their own processes?

It could be kinda like a Kickstarter thing, make your pledge as soon as it's up, and the cards all get charged in one shot upon the end of the campaign. Simple.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BillyTrimble Avatar
138 months ago
I don't see any point in having a "smart watch", Android, Apple or MS, but I'm sure that fanboys and hipsters with more $$$ than brains will eat it up.

Wow. That's really nasty. I appreciate that you don't see the need to buy a particular item. But is that any reason to insult those who do, for whatever reason they want to buy something?

That's just plain nasty and downright mean spirited. I've been disciplined for being nasty to some members on this forum. It's people like you who bring out that kind of activity. Perhaps the admins can discipline you for such absurd and nasty remarks.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
teslo Avatar
138 months ago
ok ok.. i want one now. i didn't forever. now i do. happy?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Watabou Avatar
138 months ago
What I still don't get is that Apple already has all of our hundreds of millions of credit and debit cards linked to our iTunes and Apple ID accounts, yet they want us to manually jam their servers at the stroke of midnight or 3AM to place an order they know we already want.

We're automatically billed for our monthly subscriptions to iCloud, iTunes Match, Newsstand, etc. So, how about this? Just make a button next to the product's favorite ("heart") button that says, "yes, I like this product enough for you to automatically charge my credit card and preorder or ship it to me as soon as it's available." No more waiting up until 3AM EDT, or queuing up on line the night before at the local Apple Store. Automate the process and give us an preorder confirmation email we can wake up to.

Is Apple still so insecure that they need to generate media headlines that lines are out the door and the servers couldn't handle the capacity of everyone trying to place online orders? If Apple is all about the positive customer experience, having to go through this periodic ritual can't be a totally positive experience for everyone.

Frankly, I've been doing this for eight years since the first iPhone and iPad releases, and I'm a bit tired. I would appreciate someone on Apple's backend systems or infrastructure to accommodate something like this to be done. Billions of dollars of profit every year, and they still stick to a rudimentary preordering/purchasing process. How much more in profit would they benefit from if they automated their own processes?

It could be kinda like a Kickstarter thing, make your pledge as soon as it's up, and the cards all get charged in one shot upon the end of the campaign. Simple.
This sounds like an extremely good idea at first, and pretty obvious to implement something like this, it doesn't take into account the limited supply they have when a product initially launches. You still need a way of deciding who comes first, and who is served first.


Apple could, in theory, make the products depending on the number of "hearts" but then what if a good chunk of people cancel near the end?

That said, they should really make their infrastructure better. There's no excuse now. The first couple of times were sort of understandable, but it's 2015 now. Apple should know better.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macdick Avatar
138 months ago
iwatch

you can have mine I dont need one.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NeutralGeek Avatar
138 months ago
I will be doing both or all of the above. :D I cannot wait anymore.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)