Apple Daily: In-Store Pickup for Apple Watch?; Apple Watch Beats 10 Competitors

In today's Apple Daily, it appears that Apple is preparing to make the Apple Watch available for in-store pickup. Speaking of Apple Watch, Consumer Reports subjected the device to a number of tough tests along with other smartwatches, and you won't believe who came out on top. (Okay, so maybe you will, but I've always kind of wanted to say that.)

Apple Comes Out on Top Over 10 Other Smartwatches

According to a new report from Consumer Reports, claims of the Apple Watch's comparative excellence in relation to other smartwatches aren't mere hype — they're actually true. The non-profit organization recently finished its lab tests of several different smartwatches, and it determined that the Apple Watch is, in fact, the best of the 11 smartwatches it tested (which incuded the Samsung Galaxy S and Pebble Steel, among others).

Consumer Reports subjected all of the devices to a number of tests in harsh conditions that measured their resistance to factors such as water immersion and heavy external damage. The smartwatches were also judged according to their ease of use and health functionality, as well as how easily they could be read in bright or dim lighting.

The only Apple Watch-related problem occurred when the site dunked the Apple Watch Sport underwater. The device was fine when they first took it out, but Consumer Reports "experienced problems with it 24 hours later." But this may have been a fluke. The site also tested two more Apple Watch Sports in the same conditions, and neither one of those watches had problems. Still, it's probably a good idea not to go out of your way to submerge your Apple Watch in water; though it fares well in water tests, Apple only claims that it's water resistant, not waterproof.

Sony's SmartWatch 3 fared more poorly, as both of the test watches the company sent failed to pass the water test.

In-Store Pickup Possibly Available for Apple Watch Soon

Up until now, you've only been able to get an Apple Watch if you've ordered the device online and had it shipped to your home or business using UPS or a similar service. That may soon change, however, as Apple is now listing in-store pickups as "available soon" on both the Apple Online Store and on the official Apple Store app (via MacRumors). You can't actually select it right now, but its sudden presence suggests the option should be available soon.

Source: MacRumors

As with in-store pickups for other Apple products, you'll have to present a valid government-issued ID at the Apple Store during pickup if you plan to take advantage of the upcoming option. In addition, the name on the ID has to match the name on the reservation.

The focus on exclusively online orders was a bit of a new step for Apple, and it's thought that Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts made the call based on Apple's troubles with malfunctioning Taptic Engines.

Follow this article's writer, Leif Johnson, on Twitter.