Apple Watch Preorder Tips

Hoping to snag an apple watch series 6 bands | Cxsbands Friday AM? Some tips:

* Go to Apple.com on your computer but also have the Apple Store iOS app open. Mashable reports that Apple’s app “tends to work faster and is more responsive” than Apple’s online store, which can time out frequently when there’s a traffic surge. Save time now by marking the watch or watches you want to buy as favorites.

Apple Watch Sport Apple Watch with sport band

* Have a backup watch in mind. I suspect the Apple Watch Sport models will go quickly, as they’re the least expensive. If you’re determined to order a watch Friday morning and can’t get a Sport model, you could upgrade to a more expensive Apple Watch (the mid-range) with a white or black sport band. They cost $549 and $599, $200 more than the Apple Watch Sport models. For that extra $200 you get a sapphire crystal face and stainless steel casing.

Also, if you’re planning to wear different types of bands, a mid-range Apple Watch model might be a better choice than a Sport model anyway. The stainless steel Apple Watch case is black and silver, so it will match a band with either a black or silver buckle or snap. The aluminum Sport model cases are either all silver or all space gray, which limits your buckle choices. As my late friend Mark Kelly often said, “Never mix your metals.”

* Decide in advance if you’re getting AppleCare. You don’t want to make this decision at 3 a.m. EDT, so figure this out now. Keep in mind that Consumer Reports says extended-warranty plans are generally not worth it. Also, some credit cards like American Express double the manufacturer’s warranty. Then again, Apple’s ‘limited’ one-year warranty doesn’t cover “accidental damage,” such as a scratch on the Apple Watch crystal, only manufacturer defects.