Apple launched its iPhone 18 Pro series pre-orders on September 12, and will be widely available on September 18, which marks its in-store release date. Interestingly, Apple has skipped the standard iPhone 18 in this year’s launch, instead unveiling the flagship Pro and Pro Max models alongside the new foldable iPhone Duo; the baseline model is expected at a later date.

A recent review on the status of iPhone 18 pre-orders from analyst Jeff Pu reveals that “pre-order wait times look lukewarm,” referring to the time between when you place your order at the official Apple Store and actually receive one. We’ve already seen alternative retailers, such as Joybuy in the UK, offering ‘priority delivery’ for the new iPhones with fast-track delivery.

You may have to wait weeks for your iPhone 18 delivery

The official wait times on the Apple Store are made clear at the top of the product page, so it’s easy enough to figure out how long you’ll be waiting for a delivery in your region. However, in the United States, wait times seem to have become a problem.

A glance at the Pro and Pro Max models on the official US store reveals 2-3 weeks and 3-4 weeks wait times, respectively, so your best shot at actually grabbing one on September 18 is to visit your local Apple Store, assuming one is close by. Both models are also tagged with “Unavailable for 2-hr delivery,” though keep in mind this may vary based on your specific region.

Analyst Jeff Pu also highlights different wait times for different storage sizes and color options, so it’s worth browsing through the various variants to discover which one will ship quickest in your region. The iPhone Pro and Pro Max are available in the same selection of colors at launch: Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, and Black.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.