Other UK iPhone (2018) XS/XS Max/XR Pre-Orders and Dispatch Thread

[scgf]

Bit of placebo in there, as you said you were happy on 3?

Not really, I just thought Three was good because I was getting a 'good' signal. I've been with them for years so thought my day to day experience was normal for a smartphone using mobile data. As soon as I moved to EE I really noticed how much faster everything worked - opening web pages, refreshing emails, uploading and downloading cloud data, facebook - you name it. I cycle and often go through long tunnels on a trail. I lost my Three signal as soon as I entered the tunnels, but with EE I usually don't lose the signal at all! I just hadn't realised how good it could be. A bit like wearing glasses for the first time when you thought your eyesight was OK. Placebo is an imagined improvement - this is real!

 

[Jinjin]

Usually this thread is the highlight of my year, everyone getting hyped with preorders.

This year however all I'm seeing is about people's contract plans and arguments over the viability of one over another. So I've made a new thread for that in a hope that this goes back to being the fun thread we usually have!https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/uk-phone-contract-plans-sim-only-details.2138604/

People need something to do whilst order statuses change! Even worse waiting for an IUP upgrade.. just see my reservation confirmation for Friday

 

[Lemonbear00]

Financially, perhaps. Having used the Three network, I'd rather pay double for a network that actually allows me to use the bloody phone without WiFi. You might have a better experience in your location, but down here, I may as well go sim-free and just use WiFi when available.

I didn't enjoy three one bit moved from EE to three for more data allowances 2016 May - 2018 May it was terrible.
So I moved back to EE this June 2018.

Three customer service is like talking to brick wall called up seven times to change my direct debit date and allowance reset date.
A communication company the main thing they need to learn is communicate to customers they cannot even get that right.

 

[Dries2504]

From Amazon US?

Yes

 

[Jinjin]

So I have my employee Corp discount code; did you get your 20% discount via EE or the EE work benefit portal ?

Albeit ‘am eligible to upgrade my SIMO plan now earlier than November, however ‘am leaning towards another Black Friday EE freebie galore 😛

My 12 month simo deal was a Black Friday special, given none of their new plans are max plans I’m going to be sticking with what I have

 

[Lemonbear00]

My 12 month simo deal was a Black Friday special, given none of their new plans are max plans I’m going to be sticking with what I have

How much are you paying?
I'm paying £16 40gb sim deal I got in June this year moved over from terrible three.

 

[Jinjin]

Has anyone else gone the iPhone payments route? It’s £10 cheaper a month compared to the iup. I assume you can just sell the iPhone after 12 months and pay off the rest of the balance, and go again? Almost like the iup but with an extra step.

Yup, there’s no official hand your phone back in after 11 payments with IP but as you say, you can DIY it.

One benefit I see of IUP is a different allocation of stock compared to buying as a new device. Last years X, people who were on IUP were seeing more stock in stores for them to upgrade to compared to us who were looking at a new device

 

[Jinjin]

...that would be taking the p155 though turning up at 8am with a 2pm slot expecting to be seen! 🙄

If you have a 9am or 9:30 am slot and you turn up at 8am, I'm pretty sure they won't turn you away (depending on how busy the store is).

There are some tw@ats working in the Bromley store though! My missus had a Genius Bar appointment and they wouldn’t let her ‘check in’ 10 mins early. Store was empty

 

[Jinjin]

So then, last year I got the X and LOVE it. No way I could justify getting the XS 🙁
It took me until 10am Friday morning to realise that I can just buy the XS Max!!! I used the Plus phones for a couple of years before the X and the extra screen on the Max should be amazing.
I’m buying it just to review and assess but I suspect I’ll find it more or less impossible to send it back once I have it!!
Unfortunately that couple of hours hesitation put me into the 24th-1st delivery bracket but other years it would have been worse 😉

Ah familiar face (name)! You could have been reading this forum for the last few weeks, you’d have been suckered in to buy at 8.01 last Friday like the rest of us!

 

[Jinjin]

I’ve reserved one via iup already (already on it with the X). I assume I can just give them the X and then start a new one with iPhone payments.

I don’t think upgrading after 11 months in IUP will let you switch to IP. They’d probably expect you to clear off the balance on your Barclays loan and start afresh. At this point you’d be better off giving your phone to someone like envirofone ( right now offering £590 compared to apples £550) plus crediting your remaining apple care n

 

[Lemonbear00]

There are some tw@ats working in the Bromley store though! My missus had a Genius Bar appointment and they wouldn’t let her ‘check in’ 10 mins early. Store was empty

lol, You got that right same here to.
Genius toolbox last year I had.

Made a appointment for my iPhone 7 for a dead pixel defect appointment time was 11am came about 10.55am he told me to wait five minutes store was empty and quiet.
Next he inspected my iPhone 7 said there is nothing wrong with it.
I was like can you not see a big black spot in the white background (He said No) me next asked for a store manager he noticed it straight away replaced it.
They do hire some toolbox staff here Birmingham.

 

[Jinjin]

It’s my first time ordering/pre-ordering directly from Apple. Do the iPhones get delivered via Royal Mail’s normal schedule? Or do they use someone else for the deliveries? Also is a signature required? Thanks

See first post, I’ve put lots of info there

 

[Jinjin]

It's also worth mentioning that if you sign up using Topcashback there's a chance you'll get something back off them too.

I've just signed up for a Very account for the 10% discount via there & it's tracked already.

Fingers crossed it all goes to plan

Haha I tried that with a simo Black Friday ee deal last year, tracked and then rejected after a while ( couldn’t take it with any other offers they said) the £100 reward card was better!

 

[Jinjin]

Anyone recommend a good screen protector for Xs Max?

I’ve got this one on my X and had no issues

Anker iPhone X Screen Protector for Apple iPhone X / 10 (2017) with DoubleDefence Technology, [Case Friendly] [2 PACK] Tempered Glass with Alignment Frame for Apple iPhone 10 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074YXH9WX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_v06NBbJ1RFPHY


Going without one this year

 

[Jinjin]

How much are you paying?
I'm paying £16 40gb sim deal I got in June this year moved over from terrible three.

Haha a lot ore than that! £26 for 25gb max. I needed the unthrottled roaming so it works for me. They gave a £100 MasterCard reward card too so took the monthly to £17.66

 

[John webstar44]

There are some tw@ats working in the Bromley store though! My missus had a Genius Bar appointment and they wouldn’t let her ‘check in’ 10 mins early. Store was empty

That why we call them people Genius they are better than us. lol

 

[r1biker]

My 12 month simo deal was a Black Friday special, given none of their new plans are max plans I’m going to be sticking with what I have

EE do have two sim only max plans for existing customers renewing their contract, available on the phone or retail only.

 

[rossy100]

EE do have two sim only max plans for existing customers renewing their contract, available on the phone or retail only.

Do you know what these plans are?

 

[dan-K]

I'm on Three but finding their 4G speeds ABYSMAL in London. I actually have 4G turned off as for me, the 3G connection is quicker!

Do you think EE will bring back any 4GEE Max plans for Black Friday? I'm dying to switch to EE, but not sure if I should wait for Black Friday or just switch now...

 

[r1biker]

Do you know what these plans are?

20GB for £25, 40GB for £30.

 

[Mic2904]

Just for my own sanity: I pay £20 for 25GB. I think its fairly decent. What does everyone think?

 

[Lemonbear00]

I'm on Three but finding their 4G speeds ABYSMAL in London. I actually have 4G turned off as for me, the 3G connection is quicker!

Do you think EE will bring back any 4GEE Max plans for Black Friday? I'm dying to switch to EE, but not sure if I should wait for Black Friday or just switch now...

haahah Switch off 4g to have faster speed the whole three network is Abysmal to be honest overselling the service with cheap plans hoping all customer see the sign AYCE data wow cheap but many new customers do not know how slow the service is.

 

[John webstar44]

I'm on Three but finding their 4G speeds ABYSMAL in London. I actually have 4G turned off as for me, the 3G connection is quicker!

Do you think EE will bring back any 4GEE Max plans for Black Friday? I'm dying to switch to EE, but not sure if I should wait for Black Friday or just switch now...

Now I know next time I visit London during my business trip.
I will switch off my 4g to 3g order a Uber and use googlemap. thanks for tip lol

 

[Jinjin]

I'm on Three but finding their 4G speeds ABYSMAL in London. I actually have 4G turned off as for me, the 3G connection is quicker!

Do you think EE will bring back any 4GEE Max plans for Black Friday? I'm dying to switch to EE, but not sure if I should wait for Black Friday or just switch now...

7 odd weeks to find out....

I’m sure they also had some deals prior Black Friday too that came along

 

[Loopy65]

Ah familiar face (name)! You could have been reading this forum for the last few weeks, you’d have been suckered in to buy at 8.01 last Friday like the rest of us!

Hehehe it gets worse (or better depending on how you look at it!) .. ordered an iPhone 7Plus for my mother in laws 80th birthday, it arrived today, I’m not going to mind going back to that size phone at all!!!!!

Chance of returning now down to about 1%!!