It's just after 9 a.m. in Australia and that means the first wave of Apple Watch orders are reaching customers' hands, marking an official rollout of the first product developed entirely under Apple CEO Tim Cook.
After weeks of anticipation, Australian Apple Watch buyers who preordered the device on April 10 started to receive their units on Friday, local time. As seen above, new owners are posting photographs of the sacred unboxing process to social media sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and more.
Customers in other countries should start seeing packages show up on their doorstep in the next few hours as Apple Watch's nine-country rollout continues. Apple has limited purchases to the Online Apple Store, meaning prospective buyers won't be able to pick one up at the nearest brick-and-mortar Apple Store. Select high-end fashion boutiques in Europe, Asia and the U.S. are expected to have limited supply on hand for in-store retail sale on April 24.
In addition to Australian buyers, developers who signed up for a chance at a special Apple Watch allotment are beginning to receive word on acceptance results. Earlier this week, Apple announced it would make a limited number of 42mm Apple Watch models available for purchase by members of the development community. Developers were selected at random and will receive their Watch in the next few days thanks to a guaranteed ship-by date of April 28.
Apple Watch is the first device to have entered the development cycle after cofounder Steve Jobs died in 2011. As such, its sales performance is being closely watched by analysts as a potential bellwether of Apple's future success.
42 Comments
[I]sacred unboxing process[/I]? Seriously?
After looking on Instagram at all of these under the hashtag " Apple watch" a majority of them are Apple Watch Silver Sport models with white bands. A few are Stainless. I ordered a Space Grey Sport within two minutes of the pre-order opening, my estimated day is 4/24-5/8 , yet it still lists as processing and I have not been charged yet. I think those of us that got the Space Grey might be the real ones affected by the back-orders. I'm excited nonetheless! The anticipation is killing me, but I'd only be ready to complain if and when the delivery happens after the 8th.
Did the "first" person to get one drop it like with the iPhone 6 last year?
sacred unboxing process?
Seriously?
Think they might have let some editorial in.
sacred unboxing process?
Seriously?
Yeah I know. I never understand the multiple pictures people post of various stages of opening the box. Don't get me wrong, I think Apple do a great job with their packaging, but I don't really care that much. It's the product that matters.