Apple Watch will go on sale in retail stores ‘by June’, says Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook has reportedly revealed the Apple Watch will finally go on sale in the company’s retail outlets by next month.

In a recent visit to China, Cook is said to have shared details of the in-store rollout, which will end the period of online exclusivity since the April 24 release date.

9to5Mac claims to have picked up on discussions within meeting quoting the chief executive as saying the watch will be available “by June.”

Those sentiments ring true with recent comments from Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts, suggesting the release in brick and mortar outlets will come once the month of May is in the books.

The release is unlikely to be limited to the United States either, with Cook reportedly claiming the June window will also include stores in China.

That lends hope to Apple Watch fanciers in the UK and Europe, hoping to visit their local store in order to grab the device, which is currently on back order until well into next month.

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The report contained another interesting tidbit from Cook’s eastern voyage, suggesting an Apple Pay launch in the country, and by proxy perhaps others, isn’t far away.

He reportedly said: “I think we’ve made progress… there’s different people and different banks involved,” while adding he hopes the launch will be “soon.”

So far Apple Pay is only available in the United States, with the firm tight-lipped over international launches.

There would be little surprise if China received preferential treatment from Apple in terms of the Apple Watch retail release and the Apple Pay rollout.

During the firm’s recent earnings report, Apple announced China had overtaken Europe as the company’s second biggest market. Cook event forecast it was only a “matter of time” before China became Apple’s largest market.