Apple Watch preorders in the United States estimated at 1 million
According to Slice Intelligence, a commerce tracking firm, preorders for Cupertino’s Apple Watch are currently estimated at approaching 1 million in the United States; moreover, data analysed by the company indicates that, somewhat predictably, the low-end Apple Watch Sport model proved the most popular choice for early adopters.
Of course, preorders for the Apple Watch launched last Friday, April 10, at 12:01 a.m. PDT, and huge demand saw Apple’s initial stock of the wearable sell out in no time at all. Now, most models are listed as shipping in “June,” and only the quickest initial preorders were able to secure the device’s elusive 4/24–5/8 shipping date. The data offered by Slice Intelligence (via MacRumors) is interesting: according to the company, preorders for the Apple Watch are indeed expected to approach 1 million in the United States alone, and a surprising number of customers actually preordered two smartwatches, rather than just one.
Customers purchased an average of 1.3 Apple Watches, spending, again on average, $503.83 per device. “Those ordering an Apple Watch Sport spent $382.83 per watch and those ordering the Apple Watch spent $707.04,” Slice Intelligence adds. It seems the Sport model, however, was indeed the most popular choice: some 62 percent of customers opted for the Apple Watch Sport, rather than the mid-tier Apple Watch. Slice Intelligence continues to explain that a customer’s previous Apple purchases came into play, too, adding:
Among those buying an Apple Watch, 72 percent purchased an Apple product in the past two years (iPhone, Apple computer or iPad), and 21 percent of them pre-ordered an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus mere months ago. Nearly one-third purchased two Apple products and 11 percent bought all three devices, in addition to their new watch.
Concerning customers’ favorite cases, the Space Gray aluminum model took the No. 1 position (at 40 percent) and the stainless steel took 34 percent. Among both Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch customers, the black Sport Band proved most popular band option, with the $49 price tag surely being an influencing factor.
Do note, however, that this 1 million preorder estimate is for Apple Watch sales in the United States only; it doesn’t include data from Apple’s eight remaining launch countries. Apple has yet to comment on Apple Watch preorders, with CEO Tim Cook merely noting that preorders for the smartwatch had been “great.” Based on the rate at which the device sold out on Apple Online Stores around the world, however, I think we can clearly expect impressive sales figures for the smartwatch. But exactly how impressive Apple Watch preorders were on launch day, of course, remains to be seen.
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