Those ordering the Apple Watch online from the Apple Store app or website may have to wait up to six weeks for their new smartwatch to be delivered.
Ahead of Friday’s pre-order date, the Apple Store websites in the UK and Germany are now listing shipping times with estimates of 4-6 weeks depending on the model and strap combination selected.
9to5Mac and Macerkopf.de have been digging around the online store and found estimated shipping for some models listed between April 24 and May 8. Those versions include the Apple Watch Sport, the Apple Watch with classic leather bracelet or Milanese bracelet and the Apple Watch with Sport Armband.
The Apple Watch Edition is simply listed with an estimated shipping time of ‘May.’
However, the wait is listed as 4-6 weeks for those ordering models like the Apple Watch with ‘leather strap with loop’ and Apple Watch with ‘modern leather bracelet’.
Recent reports have suggested Apple Watch supplies will be limited at launch, and it’s unclear whether international supplies will be lower during the release period. However, a 6-week watch to get the watch from the April 24 release date would not be ideal from any perspective.
Read more: Apple Watch review round up: The verdict so far
Just yesterday we brought word of an internal memo from Apple’s retail chief instructing staff to tell shoppers to order the watch online or through the app rather than queue outside the store.
However, if reports of stock shortages and long wait times are to be believed, the only way to get the Apple Watch on launch day might be to defy Andrea Ahrendts and head to your local store on April 24.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
