Skip to main content

Customers can now simply walk into an Apple Store and try on an Apple Watch

only 3 of u s consumers own a smartwatch apple has the strongest brand association watch
Trevor Mogg
Leading up to the release of the Apple Watch earlier this year, it seemed that it might not be an easy process to actually get your hands on one. Orders were online only, even if you wanted to buy one in-store, and to actually try one on, you needed an appointment.

Four months out from the initial release of the Apple Watch, the appointment requirement is being dropped, 9to5 Mac reports. Until now, the protocol was that even if a customer walked into an Apple Store, they would need to provide their Apple ID and pick a time to try the Apple Watch on. Now customers can just try one on, the way they would in any other store.

Related Videos

That said, customers will still need to provide an email address, but this is more for the customer’s convenience than it is for Apple’s. This is done to help the customer remember the exact configurations they tried on, allowing them to buy the exact same setup online if they don’t make the purchase while still at the Apple Store.

There is one time that customers will still be encouraged to make an appointment: when an Apple Store’s try-on areas for the Apple Watch are all occupied. Of course, nothing is stopping the customer from simply returning at a different time.

This move shouldn’t come as a surprise. The company has by now had enough time to resolve the initial inventory shortages, and customers aren’t clamoring to see the watch in action the same way they were in April. Apple has been moving this way anyway, allowing customers to make appointments in-store rather than only online.

The appointment requirement may officially be gone starting this week, though many customers are saying they simply walked into an Apple Store and bought an Apple Watch weeks or even months ago without the need for an appointment. Still, if the need for an appointment has put you off until now, this is surely welcome news.

If you’re not sure what to do with your brand new Apple Watch, we’ve collected 15 tips and tricks to help you make the most of your new wrist buddy.

Editors' Recommendations

Hackers can now sneak malware into the GIFs you share
A video call in progress on Microsoft Teams.

How low will malware go to get onto your device? We thought using Minecraft to gain access to your computer was the most nefarious method hackers have produced, but there's a new, even lower type of attack that uses Microsoft Teams and GIFs to mount phishing attacks on your computer.

The new attack is called GIFShell and it installs malware on your computer to steal data. It does so by sneaking itself into innocent-looking GIFs and then waiting for you to share the GIF with your colleagues via Microsoft Teams.

Read more
How much storage do you need on your new iPhone 14? Here’s how to decide
The five Apple iPhone 14 colors.

The new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are finally available, and Apple is again offering a selection of storage tiers. The big question is just how much storage do you need on your iPhone 14? Similar to last year, the iPhone 14 series lets you choose as little as 128GB and as much as 1TB. This means that if you want to get a new iPhone, you'll need to pick between 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB options. Bigger isn't always better, nor is it always excessive. Only you know how you use your phone, but here's a quick guide to help you pick which iPhone size is the best option for you.

Model
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max

Read more
Apple’s antivirus strategy for Mac has gone fully preemptive, but is that enough?
Security and Privacy settings open on a MacBook.

Apple made its Macs even better at fighting malware in recent years, but don't relax just yet.

A recent blog post by Howard Oakley at the Eclectic Light Company details the changes Apple has quietly made in the past six months that mark a distinct change in strategy for protecting Macs, including spots where there are still holes of vulnerability, specifically for some older Macs.

Read more