Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have begun, but demand for Apple’s new phones, contrary to the trends of past years, apparently isn’t particularly high.
According to ITNA citing Phonearena, while pro iPhone models usually quickly face long shipping times, currently many models and configurations of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are still listed for shipping on September 18.
One possibility raised is that some potential buyers are waiting for the iPhone Duo pre-orders to start. Pre-orders for this foldable Apple phone will begin on October 16, and some users may prefer to hold their budget to buy Apple’s new and different product. Another possibility is that Apple produced a larger initial inventory this year, and therefore even relatively high demand has not yet caused widespread shipping delays.
For the iPhone 18 Pro, most models are still on schedule; however, the burgundy and silver models with 256GB and 512GB have been delayed, and their shipping window has changed to September 24–29.
The situation for the iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit different and shows more signs of demand for some of its versions. The burgundy model with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities is now listed to ship between October 6 and 13. Some versions in icy, black, and silver colors have also been delayed.
Interestingly, the iPhone 18 Pro Max with 2TB and a price of $2,499 is still scheduled to ship on September 18; a fact that may suggest Apple overestimated demand for its most expensive model.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, rising to $2,399 and $2,499 respectively at the highest capacity. If demand does not continue to fall, this year’s pre-order performance could offer an interesting picture of the iPhone market and users’ reception of the iPhone Duo.