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A lot slower. Remember the good old days of lines outside stores, excitement, band of brothers style bonding with those around you. Online orders would often slip to November within minutes. The store would crash. We will never see that again.

Definitely a lot slower sell times.

The spark of owning next gen just isn’t there anymore. With the cost of the devices, the state of the economy, and lack of facelift, many are holding off on upgrading I feel.

Much of what you are describing occurred during the first ten or so years of the iPhone yet Apple has sold over twice as many iPhones per year on average in the last seven years than they did in the first ten.

Sales aren't necessarily "a lot slower", Apple may simply have gotten better with supply chain and order fulfillment processes.
 
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Much of what you are describing occurred during the first ten or so years of the iPhone yet Apple has sold almost 50% more iPhones per year on average in the last seven years than they did in the first ten.

Sales aren't necessarily "a lot slower", Apple may simply have gotten better with supply chain and order fulfillment processes.
I think you’re right. Having worked on BTO @ Dell years ago, I’m sure Apple have learnt a lot (and their partners too).
 
I had to cancel my pre-order and re order with the correct payment method. When I reordered at around 1pm PDT, there were still units in the color and spec I wanted available for pickup on launch day.

I wonder if it's tempered demand due to the not-a-recession or if regular folk really don't think it's worth the upgrade.
 
Remember when availability was staggered?

2020: 12/Pro in October, 12 mini/Max in November.

And by 14, only the Plus model was staggered.

All 15 models were available simultaneously, nothing sold out. Same this year, unless you're really picky about color/storage and don't want to pick up or reserve in store.
 
I was very surprised to see the Optus app work perfectly. This morning there are still half of the options available on launch day. This is unusual, so perhaps you’re onto something. I’ve ordered my PM and am very excited.
 
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It’s 9:27 AM ET and several Pro models are still shipping on 9/20. Several Pro Max models are at 10/2-10/7. Wondering how it’s going for Apple. Is this slower than in years past or am I just remembering wrong?
Quick answer: Apple manufactures way more phones before launch so the wait is shorter, iPhones sold best in 2021, 2022 and 2023 of all the years iPhone has existed (2024 is not over yet)
 
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Majority of us middle class people aren’t upgrading every year… just not smart financially. Unless your getting your moneys worth on your previous device

The trend is…. The majority of preorders are coming from people who are upgrading from the iPhone 13 and under, the majority of people who upgrade to the 17 will be coming from the 14 and under, etc etc

That may change either way if Apple continues to lock certain new features under the latest phone
When my 2 year old device will perform just about the same as a new phone, no reason. And Apple rolling out ai over who knows how long it will be.
 
Remember when availability was staggered?

2020: 12/Pro in October, 12 mini/Max in November.

And by 14, only the Plus model was staggered.

All 15 models were available simultaneously, nothing sold out. Same this year, unless you're really picky about color/storage and don't want to pick up or reserve in store.

A lot of the situation with the 12 was the global shipping disaster with the lockdowns - Apple couldn't just reserve every plane out of China for a month like they used to. The 14 Plus had LCD panel issues as I recall - they weren't QC approved until like a month before release, so Apple didn't have enough stock ready for a simultaneous launch.
 
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Locally, the only 16 Pro Max still readily available for in-store pickup on launch is 512GB Natural Titanium (at all four local Apple stores). Everything else is sold out.

16 Pro varies across the board depending on color and storage, but all models of the 16 and 16 Plus can easily be found.

Looking at T-Mobile, the only device without guaranteed launch day delivery is the 256GB Pro Max in White Titanium.
 
1.) Maybe they just figured it better.
2.) I started at 0500 AM PDT and my delivery date was already into Oct 3rd (16 Pro Max, Desert, 256). I was able to get one for pickup at a local Apple Store, so I’m going to do that.
 
Yeah I just noticed the desert titanium 16 pro max is still saying October 2-17 ship date. In years past, pro max models shipping dates would have long since slipped into November or even early December by now. Also, the Apple stores have decent launch day stock as well. I got my 15 pro max last year on launch day without a pre order.
 
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A lot slower. Remember the good old days of lines outside stores, excitement, band of brothers style bonding with those around you. Online orders would often slip to November within minutes. The store would crash. We will never see that again.

Yes!! I miss those days the last time the iPhone had a big launch with people camping outside of the store was back in 2017 when the iPhone X launched. I remember standing in line 13 hours to get the iPhone 4 in 2010. I also woke up at like 5am launch day to get the iPhone 6 ha.


Remember when availability was staggered?

2020: 12/Pro in October, 12 mini/Max in November.

And by 14, only the Plus model was staggered.

All 15 models were available simultaneously, nothing sold out. Same this year, unless you're really picky about color/storage and don't want to pick up or reserve in store.

At my local Apple Store, it was pretty packed all day on launch day/ weekend for the 15 pro models last year. It was reminiscent of classic iPhone launch days. Also, remember pro models being completely sold out for a few weeks after launch on the site in various locations locally and beyond.
 
In Australia, I've preordered on same day as I work near my apple store for pick up, delivery is iffy because I'm not at home and they'll send it to a post office instead.

Locked in my choice even without doing fast express pre-order set up in advance... it is slow because as we expect phones aren't making year on year ultimate strides; it's already super capable. This will definitely appease annyone who's holding a 13 Pro Max or older.

I know 16 Pro [non-max's] are still available for pick up in store today, 16 Pro max maybe not.... [only shipping available]

no surprise given the 16 PRo max has the biggest stride in battery life, it is definitely my choice... while yes the 16 Pro is getting near the size of a 11 pro max in screen size, batt life is always imperative to long term use.
 
A lot slower. Remember the good old days of lines outside stores, excitement, band of brothers style bonding with those around you. Online orders would often slip to November within minutes. The store would crash. We will never see that again.
I know many of us are disappointed at the upgrades this year but come on man, “band of brothers style bonding” with other people waiting in line for a phone.
 
Getting a standard iPhone 16 was never in question. It was pretty easy to get a standard 15 last year too. The 16 Pros on the other hand still sold out pretty quickly. I ordered mine at 5:09a PT, and by 5:32a they had already pushed ship dates to October, and my local Apple store was sold out for launch day. Now all the Apple stores within 200 miles of me are completely out of the base 256GB Pro Max models.

As far as upgrades being "disappointing" to some people, y'all oughta remember that not everyone is upgrading from a 15 series, people will be coming from iPhones across many different years and it's a big jump to anyone iPhone 14 and earlier.
 
I can’t imagine there’s the same type of demand there was years ago, these phones are so similar to the previous years. I doubt overall, many people with a 15 Pro are rushing for a 16 Pro for example. I suppose with the standard iPhones there are at least differences like the appearance of the camera and AI coming to it.

It’s just not as exciting as it used to be either is it? We are all very much aware of the features we expect and want whereas in like 2014, it was phone manufacturers telling us what we needed.
 
Keep in mind the current 2-3 week wait is in spite of Apple offering iPhone 16 Pro/Max in 58 countries on day one.

With iPhone 15 Pro/Max, it was available in only 40 countries on day one.

iPhone 13 and 14 Pro Max were available in only 38-40 countries on day one.

The current 2-3 week wait is expected to be pessimistic. Once Apple has enough data over the weekend to better target configuration demand, the wait should fall.
 
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Not much of a deal imo because this very same plan without the phone attached to it is only $25/mo. And it's only $65/mo if you get the base model 128GB Pro and stay on the plan for 3 years… HARD PASS.✋🏼
Exactly. Boost isn’t trying to sell iPhones as the guy up above suggested. Boost wants to boost their subscriber count for their network.
 
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