iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Orders May Start at an Unusual Time

[MacRumors]

Pre-orders of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro may not open until Saturday, September 12, a day later than the company's usual schedule, according to a new report.

Apple is set to hold its annual iPhone event on Wednesday, September 9, where the iPhone 18 Pro models, its first-ever foldable iPhone, and the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are all expected to be announced.

Under Apple's typical launch plan, pre-orders begin the Friday immediately following the event, with devices shipping the following Friday. This year, that would place pre-orders on Friday, September 11, but Macworld reports that its German sister publication, Macwelt, has heard from a reliable source that Apple will instead push pre-orders back to Saturday, September 12.

There is precedent for this as the shift is reportedly tied to the date itself. September 11, 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and Apple has moved pre-orders away from that date before. In 2015, when the standard pre-order Friday also landed on September 11, Apple delayed iPhone 6S and 6S Plus pre-orders to Saturday, September 12.

The timing within the day is also said to be changing. Apple's pre-orders traditionally open at 5 a.m. PT, but the source says this year's window will instead start at midnight PT on Saturday.

The delayed pre-order date is expected to apply to the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4, alongside any other hardware Apple introduces at the event. Apple's foldable iPhone could follow at a later date, with pre-orders potentially not opening until late September.

Earlier this year, Macwelt reported that Apple would announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, but that announcement didn't actually come until March 2. That being said, Saturday, September 12 looks like a solid bet for the iPhone 18 Pro's pre-order date, though the reported midnight PT start time is worth taking with a pinch of salt for now. Apple's iPhone event takes place in just under two weeks, on September 9.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Orders May Start at an Unusual Time

 

[awshucks]

Although I know it would impact the Ultra more I'm surprised the pre-orders wouldn't be pushed to the 18th because of the RAM shortages. Just to allow for more time to prepare for the demand.

 

[Leobreaker]

 

[boswald]

I'm sure someone, somewhere, somehow, will be offended by this.

 

[k1121j]

Although I know it would impact the Ultra more I'm surprised the pre-orders wouldn't be pushed to the 18th because of the RAM shortages. Just to allow for more time to prepare for the demand.

my guess is the staggering of the pro vs non pro models will be the biggest help in regards to supply

 

[dwtd]

What a terrible day for an iPhone release, reminds me of that tragedy

 

[diblasio]

Dang, now I’ll forever associate September 11 with a tragic event

 

[kemal]

maybe the [Surp]rise and Shine thing is about having to get up in the middle of the night to pre-order.

 

[jbachandouris]

12pst? So back to 3am est preorder. They really don’t want sales. Clearly. Between this and Klarna.

 

[Nikhil72]

12pst? So back to 3am est preorder. They really don’t want sales. Clearly. Between this and Klarna.

Yes I’m sure Apple doesn’t want any sales lol

 

[DocMultimedia]

Yeesh. Just let us order right when the announcement finishes. No way am I getting up at 3am eastern. I really want this phone before I head overseas in October.

 

[svish]

Think this is very possible. Don't think I will be ordering anything but excited to see the foldable.

 

[slippery-pete]

I'm sure someone, somewhere, somehow, will be offended by this.

You know this board very well!

 

[F23]

Now I have to wait a whole extra day to pre order my new shiny! 😡
AND I have to get up at 3 AM instead of a more reasonable 8 AM! 😡
Tim was more civilized than Ternus! /s

 

[dannyyankou]

People with 9-5 jobs REJOICE

I specifically work 8am-4pm, so that’s rough timing for me. Trying to frantically preorder the phone as I’m stumbling into the office like a fool lol.

 

[Happy_John]

Really, what's the rush?

Even when people order, they really have no guarantee exactly when it will be shipped.

It feels a little like barrelling down the road so you can get stuck in the same traffic jam as everyone else.

 

[zrs70]

Well - seeing that Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year is on September 12, there may be a whole category of people that won’t be able to pre-order.

 

[IIGS User]

On one hand 3 am stinks.

On the other hand I’m up at 3 AM almost every night anyway so what’s the difference

 

[DrJR]

Hope i can order the fold then, any word on its pre-order date?

 

[dmccombs]

I don't mind them changing the date, but opening pre-orders at midnight would suck. I hope the rumors are wrong, but Apple's doing some weird stuff lately so anything's possible.

 

[kaboum]

3AM Eastern pre-order is wild 🤮

 

[lazyrighteye]

Saturday at midnight preorder window is... Different.
Due of the understandable significance of the 9/11 anniversary, I thought for sure they would have avoided that entire week and simply opted for a clean Tuesday 9/15 keynote, Friday 9/18 preorders and Friday 9/25 deliveries cadence. Oh well, I'm up late anyway.

What I may miss most form previous iPhone pre-order events, was the ease that was having my iUP pre-approved pre-order set in advance. When I woke on pre-order day, I was two quick taps away from securing day-one delivery. Was so easy. Here's hopping there is a similar pre-approval, pre-order scenario for this new Klarna kluster.

 

[drmarko]

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins at sunset September 11 and would include September 12 pre order launch. Apple: why not just have the pre order sometime the week of September 14 and avoid this High Holiday overlap?

 

[Alexrat1996]

I’m wondering for current IUP users who eligible to upgrade will apple upgrade program lets us get preapproval in advance so check out is fast?

Will that happen ?

 

[The Game 161]

so order saturday and still receive for following friday