Yesterday, Apple announced its new iPhone lineup. The company unveiled its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max alongside its first-ever foldable device, the iPhone Duo.
However, as in years past, Apple also opted not to make the devices available for sale right away. Instead, the company is maintaining its phased approach to sales: pre-orders first, and in-store availability later.
Yet this year, Apple is launching pre-orders a day later than normal. Here’s when you can pre-order the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo—and when you can expect to receive them.
iPhone 18 Pro pre-order date and time
In years past, Apple had a predictable pre-order timeline: If the new iPhones launched on a Tuesday or Wednesday, pre-orders would begin that Friday. But this year, the iPhone 18 Pro series pre-orders will begin one day later, on a Saturday.
Why? Apple hasn’t given a reason for the one-day delay. However, it likely relates to the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which falls on Friday. The company likely wants to avoid the date out of respect.
Instead, pre-orders for the new iPhone 18 Pro series will begin this year on Saturday, September 12, at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. Here’s how that translates to other time zones in the United States:
- Hawaii (HST): 2 a.m.
- Alaska (AKT): 4 a.m.
- Pacific (PT): 5 a.m.
- Mountain (MT): 6 a.m.
- Central (CT): 7 a.m.
- Eastern (ET): 8 a.m.
Because iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders will begin simultaneously across America, those on the East Coast can sleep in a little later and will not need to get up as early as those on the West Coast.
The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will then be available for sale in stores beginning on Friday, September 18.
iPhone Duo pre-order date and time
While Apple introduced its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, yesterday alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, it also announced that the Duo wouldn’t go on sale until October.
If you want an iPhone Duo, you’ll need to wait until pre-orders begin on Friday, October 16.
As with the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, the iPhone Duo pre-orders will begin at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, which converts to:
- Hawaii (HST): 2 a.m.
- Alaska (AKT): 4 a.m.
- Pacific (PT): 5 a.m.
- Mountain (MT): 6 a.m.
- Central (CT): 7 a.m.
- Eastern (ET): 8 a.m.
The iPhone Duo will then be available for sale in stores one week later, on Friday, October 23.
When will my iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo pre-order arrive?
The iPhone’s pre-order day usually sees a flood of people trying to place orders. The more people who place pre-orders, the more ship times can slip.
So just because you place a pre-order for the iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max this Saturday doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to get the device when it goes on sale in stores on Friday, September 18.Â
As a matter of fact, delivery times for pre-orders can quickly slip into October, even if you place your pre-order on Day 1.
That’s why, if you want to get your new iPhone as soon as possible, it’s a good idea to be ready to place your pre-order the moment pre-orders open on Saturday—yes, that’s at 5 a.m. if you’re on the West Coast.
Alternatively, if pre-order delivery times slip too much, and if you still want a new iPhone the first day it’s available, you can always try your luck at your local Apple Store on September 18.
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