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Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max opened early on Saturday morning, and didn’t fare very well in the first 24 hours. While the estimated delivery times are already well beyond the original September 18 window, they’re still not pushed back so much. In fact, you may still have a chance to snag a new phone on launch day.
iPhone 18 Pro demand stays low even days after the pre-orders started
Sticking to tradition, the iPhone 18 Pro duo is already showing some shipping delays in the US, but not by very long. The iPhone 18 Pro Max appears to be the more popular of the two models, with delivery estimates on Apple’s online store ranging between October 6 and October 13.
However, if you’re willing to pick up your new device from an Apple Store, you may get it as early as September 18, practically avoiding any delays. This is only true for some color and storage combinations, though. The 256GB is not available for pick up at all, but the 512GB version in black and glacier, 1TB version of all colors except burgundy, and the 2 TB versions of every color can be picked up this week.
Meanwhile, the estimated delivery of the smaller iPhone 18 Pro is between September 26 and October 6, but pick up is available from September 18 for all storage and color versions.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro turning into a flop?
Compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro appears to be enjoying much less interest at launch. Last year, the iPhone 17 Pro Max shipment times slipped by three weeks hours after pre-orders were opened, though the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air remained available on the launch date.
As compelling as it may feel to declare the iPhone 18 Pro a flop, it would be premature to do this at this stage. Shipment estimates are often used as a signal for the popularity of new iPhones, but they’re not the best way to measure demand.
These estimates are certainly affected by demand, but they could also reflect a job well done on Apple’s part. If the company secured orderly production and generally better supply that can easily meet the demand.
Users on Reddit have mostly shared that their pre-orders went smoothly, with some reporting minor hiccups, such as double orders and unexpected error messages that delayed their purchase. Noticing the high availability, some redditors suggested that many Apple fans may be waiting for the iPhone Duo.
Is this the worst year to buy a Pro iPhone?
Even with Apple delaying the iPhone 18 until next spring, the iPhone 18 Pro is one of its less enticing flagships in recent years. The new models are not a major upgrade compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, and rumor has it that the anniversary iPhone 20 will come with a major redesign.
Then there’s the foldable iPhone Duo, which may come with a somehow off-putting starting price of $1,999, but it’s also the biggest change to the iPhone since at least the iPhone X. With the iPhone 18 Pro’s $100 price hike compared to last year’s models, the foldable may seem even more interesting for anyone who has the budget.
On the other hand, even with the price increase, the iPhone 18 Pro Max costs the same as the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It also starts at the same $1,299 as the Pixel 11 Pro XL, despite vastly outperforming Google’s flagship.
Probably not a flop
I’m not surprised Apple is capable of meeting the demand for the iPhone 18 Pro, and I’m not sure if this is because of low demand. The company has only two models to ship right now, both with largely the same design as last year’s phones.
I’d bet these factors lead to easier production at higher capacity, which means much better supply than in other years. Of course, we’ll need to wait at least a few weeks before the first estimates start coming in, but I wouldn’t be surprised if sales are just fine.
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