Apple Watch Orders Exclusively Online at Launch, Demand Expected to Exceed Supply - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Watch Orders Exclusively Online at Launch, Demand Expected to Exceed Supply

Apple WatchApple issued a reminder on Thursday that Apple Watch pre-orders and try-on appointments begin April 10, with retail chief Angela Ahrendts stating that Apple Watch orders will be taken exclusively online at launch to ensure that customers have the best selection and experience possible.

Apple also believes that "tremendous interest" in the Apple Watch will result in demand exceeding supply at launch. Yesterday, it was reported that some Apple Watch models may be unavailable for April 24 delivery based on shipping times that briefly appeared on the Apple Online Store in the United Kingdom and Germany.

"We are excited to welcome customers tomorrow and introduce them to Apple Watch, our most personal device yet. Based on the tremendous interest from people visiting our stores, as well as the number of customers who have gone to the Apple Online Store to mark their favorite Apple Watch ahead of availability, we expect that strong customer demand will exceed our supply at launch,” said Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores. “To provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can, we will be taking orders for Apple Watch exclusively online during the initial launch period.”

Apple Watch pre-orders begin on April 10 at 12:01 AM Pacific, or equivalent local times in other countries, in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Apple Watch officially goes on sale April 24 in the aforementioned launch countries, although in-store pickup will not be accepted without a reservation.

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

Popular Stories

Schlage Sense Pro

Schlage Launching Sense Pro Door Lock With Hands-Free Unlocking via iPhone or Apple Watch

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:10 am PDT by
Schlage today announced that the Sense Pro smart deadbolt it unveiled at CES 2025 will finally be available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada beginning June 29, with U.S. pricing set at $399 and Canadian pricing set at $549. The smart deadbolt will be available at Amazon, The Home Depot, Lowe's, and select other retailers. Sense Pro utilizes Ultra Wideband technology to allow for...
apple yoga day activity challenge

Apple Watch Activity Challenge for International Day of Yoga Coming June 21

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:55 am PDT by
Apple is celebrating International Day of Yoga with an Activity Challenge that takes place on Sunday, June 21. To earn the in-app award, Apple Watch owners must record a yoga workout of 10 minutes or more. Any yoga workout will fulfill the requirement, as long as you select the yoga workout type from the Workout app on the Apple Watch or use an app that adds yoga workouts to the Health app. ...
watchOS 27 Hands On Thumb

Hands-On With watchOS 27: Every New Apple Watch Feature

Thursday June 18, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
watchOS 27 is the new version of watchOS that's coming to the Apple Watch this fall. It's a little light on features, but there are some useful new additions, including access to Siri AI. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. watchOS 27 will have Siri AI, so you'll be able to use many of the same Siri features that you have on the iPhone on your wrist. Right now, the...

Top Rated Comments

147 months ago
Of course Apple is "expecting" this demand. But the markets, tech news sites, etc. appear not.

I wonder if this time Apple with withhold supply to make the appearance of demand, thereby creating a market of lemmings wanting to buy it because they cannot have it.

Also, FWIW, I'm 100% Apple, love Apple products, etc. But the iWatch is a solution to a non-existent problem.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacHiavelli Avatar
147 months ago
If everything is to be pushed online, what's the point of Angela?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JonnyIreland Avatar
147 months ago
One thing that astounds me is that, on one hand, Apple/Angela Ahrendts talk like they are trying to make the Apple experience a more luxurious/higher end product, yet large portions of the purchasing public have to get out of bed at ridiculous times in the slim hopes of ordering a launch day product. Believe me, there is nothing classy about seeing me at 3am* sitting in front of my iMac in my boxers!

*No, nobody is FORCING me, I get it.... But it all seems rather contradictory to me, just my opinion.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
147 months ago
So much $pay, so little impact....

Translation from $overpaid Ahrends-speak to English: "To provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can, we will be taking orders for Apple Watch exclusively online during the initial launch period." = "I may personally be making $millions out of Apple but I still can't provide a satisfying retail experience". Google Translate really needs to have an additional option for translating Apple-speak.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
147 months ago
In other news, research has shown rain is actually falling water :p

Of course demand will outstrip supply. We've already had reports of low yeilds from manufacturing and a lot of demand for for it.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
147 months ago
In other words, 'we screwed up, and we're not sorry'
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)