Apple Watch Pre-Orders Reach 1 Million in US; Delays Expected in Delivery

Those who were skeptical about Apple Watch's success have been proved wrong, as the pre-order numbers paint a different picture altogether. In the US alone, Apple Watch pre-orders reached nearly 1 million on the first day, posing logistics challenge, as Apple might face difficulties in fulfilling the unprecedented demand. The data on bookings has not come from Apple directly, but from Slice Intelligence, a US firm that tracks consumers' expenditure through email receipts in the country. Nevertheless, it is good news for Apple.

Apple has a dedicated fan following in the US and it has been proved once again with the grand opening for the Apple Watch. The price tag attached to the smartwatch may have put down many aspiring buyers, but it is clear that iPhone users are willing to pay for it. Going by the numbers put out by Slice Intelligence,  the Apple Watch Sport edition remains the most popular choice among consumers, accounting for 62 percent.

The data combined by Slice was based on receipts from 9,080 online shoppers. The analytics firm also broke down the Apple Watch sales by their bands.

"The Black Sport Band was by far the most popular among both Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport buyers, with 49 percent overall pre-ordering one, followed by the White Sport Band at 16 percent and the more expensive Milanese Loop ($149 versus $49 for the black Sport band) rounding out the top three at around 10 percent," Slice explained.

Slice also revealed that "Space Gray" aluminium case made up for 40 percent of the orders, followed by stainless steel at 34 percent, silver aluminium at 23 percent and space black steel at 3 percent, Quartz reported.

Apple has limited its watch pre-sales through online channel; official sales through both offline and online stores will commence from 24 April. The deliveries are expected in May or June, depending on the model ordered by customers, given the excessive demand.