Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 9 at its "Surprise and shine" event. If you're keen to be among the first to get your hands on one, here are some tips on how to give yourself the best chance. If you're looking to grab a foldable iPhone Duo, check out our separate guide.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 18 Pro models opened on Saturday, September 12 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time ahead of a launch on Friday, September 18. Shipping estimates for popular iPhone Pro configurations tend to slip by several weeks within hours of Apple's pre-orders opening, which tends to happen the week of the announcement. Ordering quickly therefore can make the difference between a launch-day delivery and an extended wait.
If you place your order today, there's now a 3-4 week wait time for iPhone 18 Pro Max models across all storage options and colorways in the U.S. Demand has been less strong for iPhone 18 Pro models, but you're still looking at a 2-3 week wait for any configuration. These tips should help give you the best chance of grabbing one as soon as possible.
- Check your Apple Account details now: Do the necessary checks that confirm your payment method hasn't expired, your billing address matches your card, and your shipping address is the place you actually want your iPhone sent to.
- Get your trade-in quote in advance: Getting a trade-in valuation on your current iPhone adds more screens to the checkout process, so get it done before pre-orders go live. After a trade-in estimate is generated, Apple has to receive your old device within 14 days (15 days in Canada) to ensure you get the estimated value. But this countdown only comes into effect after you receive your iPhone 18 Pro – not before.
- If you financed your current phone through the old iPhone Upgrade Program, check your status and your replacement financing options: Apple discontinued the old program in the US in July 2026. Eligible existing members can move to Apple Upgrade, Apple Card Monthly Installments, carrier financing, or a one-time purchase. Note that in the UK, Apple is in the process of transitioning former Upgrade Program customers to its Flexible Finance Account.
- Don't change your configuration selection at checkout: Every change you make to your basket likely re-queries Apple's inventory. If your saved specification is available, take it all the way to payment. This includes which color you prefer – the more last-minute changes you make, the greater the risk becomes that availability will change before you check out.
- Choose in-store pickup if it's offered: There's every reason to believe that Apple's pickup inventory will be allocated separately from its delivery stock, so a store slot can still be available after delivery estimates have slipped. Opting for in-store pickup also removes any potential ambiguity surrounding your estimated delivery window.
- Launch day walk-in stock is a genuine alternative: Apple could conceivably hold back some inventory for in-store purchases on launch morning. Brick-and-mortar stocks are also allocated per store rather than nationally. Apple's pickup availability checker updates through the morning and is likely to be more efficient and reliable than calling the store. That being said, don't assume you'll be able to walk into a store and pick up an iPhone 18 Pro.
For all the details about the new iPhone 18 Pro models, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup.
Top Rated Comments
Being boring I’ve started wondering what’s the point of all these colours when 90% of people stick a case on them.
If you were to double that in a year (improbable) and do absolutely no house cleaning (perhaps probable but you perhaps should) you would be still a ten or twenty GB below 512gb in 12 months.
I would stick to 512 and if it actually gets tight in say, 10 months, a tiny bit of house cleaning is not in it self a bad thing.
Buy the silver and drop it into a case.
I did all the "Get Ready" stuff and I'll be in the app at 8am.
Since burgundy is this year's special color like last year's orange... I wonder if Apple will be making a larger amount of them at launch?
I'm just afraid that burgundy will start slipping into October. Oh well... it's not the end of the world if that happens.
😎