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that's what I figured.... :)

if that's a real cat, he/she is cute!
He thinks he is very handsome!
IMG_0251.jpeg
 
is there any chance that I can get my hands on iPhone 17 Pro before 5pm on September 16?
Unless you're one of the following:
  • An Apple employee in the right group
  • A tech reviewer with enough clout to be given a device to review ahead of the embargo
  • Someone on the manufacturing line
  • A thief with access to one of the above groups of people
then, no.
 
Unless you're one of the following:
  • An Apple employee in the right group
  • A tech reviewer with enough clout to be given a device to review ahead of the embargo
  • Someone on the manufacturing line
  • A thief with access to one of the above groups of people
then, no.
You forgot:

UPS employee takes some after it passes customs all the way to distribution holding warehouses...

Mine last year was mysteriously snatched up when it reached the local distribution counter.
Had to file a police report and finally was "found" a week later.
That was not fun.
 
Unless you're one of the following:
  • An Apple employee in the right group
  • A tech reviewer with enough clout to be given a device to review ahead of the embargo
  • Someone on the manufacturing line
  • A thief with access to one of the above groups of people
then, no.
Don’t forget that sometimes the elites, like politicians and the very well to do get these phone before release.
 
You could buy a 16, print and cut out the iPhone 17 images from this website and glue them on to the 16.

Then walk around busy areas pulling the phone out for a couple of seconds and they saying "whoops! Shouldn't have shown you that!" and putting it back in your pocket.

Extra points for printing a totally unusual colour, maybe purple with a yellow camera block or something, and wait until all the "influencers" announce that there's going to be a totally new colour for the iPhone 17.
 
Pretty sure review units have to be returned to Apple once a period of time is over.

Also, I am sure tech YouTubers that get invited to the Apple events like iJustine or Marques Brownlee get review units after the event at Apple Park so they have reviews up on their channels the following week before launch. Then they have to return them and the YouTubers buy their own phone if they desire.
 
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