Analyst Reports Lukewarm iPhone 18 Pro Preorders
Analyst Reports Lukewarm iPhone 18 Pro Preorders
Anonymous
Key Points
1
AppleInsider’s early tracking found that 30 minutes after preorders opened at 8:30 a.m. ET, every standard iPhone 18 Pro color and configuration in the United States still showed the September 18 delivery date. The 1TB and 2TB Pro Max models were also still unrestricted, while the 256GB Burgundy Pro Max was the only configuration to show an immediate delay.
2
For customers seeking a launch-day phone, Apple’s U.S. store listed the Pro with roughly two- to three-week waits and the Pro Max with three- to four-week waits in some configurations; both models were also marked unavailable for two-hour delivery, making an in-store purchase the most plausible route to release-day availability.
3
The launch lineup reportedly includes Apple’s A20 Pro chip and upgraded camera capabilities, while prices rose amid a broader memory-market crisis—additional factors that could affect buyers’ willingness to upgrade.
4
The comparison with last year’s launch is more specific than a general slowdown: the iPhone 17 Pro Max reached three- to four-week delivery delays on September 13, one day after preorders opened and six days before release, whereas the iPhone 18 Pro series began preorders on September 12 without producing the same immediate, broad-based delays.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max preorders are showing weaker demand than last year's launch, with delivery estimates remaining notably relaxed in the critical first hours. AppleInsider found that 30 minutes after preorders opened, nearly all standard iPhone 18 Pro configurations still offered the September 18 release date—a sharp contrast to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which hit three- to four-week delays just one day after opening. Only select Burgundy models and certain Pro Max configurations faced immediate delays, signaling softer early interest.
Analyst Jeff Pu characterized the preorder response as "lukewarm," citing limited upgrades, higher prices, heavier designs, and Apple's new iPhone Duo foldable as potential dampeners on buyer enthusiasm. Bank of America research flagged the surprising trend, noting that delivery estimate patterns typically signal demand strength. However, experts caution that shipping estimates reflect both customer demand and Apple's inventory strategy, making the full picture harder to assess.
Burgundy Bursts While Silver Stays Calm
Demand split sharply along color and storage lines. Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro models—particularly the 256GB version—faced three- to four-week delays within hours of preorder launch. The Pro Max's 256GB Burgundy configuration showed immediate delays, while 1TB and 2TB Pro Max versions remained unrestricted. AppleInsider noted that Silver and higher-capacity models generally stayed easier to obtain, suggesting concentrated interest in the new Burgundy finish rather than across-the-board strong demand.
In-Store Pickup Emerges as Release-Day Option
Customers hunting a launch-day iPhone 18 Pro face real friction: Apple's U.S. online store showed two- to three-week waits for the Pro and three- to four-week delays for some Pro Max configurations. AppleInsider reported both models were marked unavailable for two-hour delivery, forcing shoppers toward in-store pickup as the most direct path to Friday availability. This distribution pattern stands in stark contrast to the frenzied sellouts typical of blockbuster iPhone launches.
Specs and Pricing May Dim Upgrade Appeal
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup boasts Apple's A20 Pro chip and upgraded camera features, but those improvements arrive alongside steeper prices and noticeably heavier devices. The broader memory-market crisis has pushed prices upward just as consumer interest appears split—some buyers are holding out for the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone. These factors collectively may explain why early preorder demand feels muted compared to recent cycles.
Last Year's Launch Tells a Different Story
The iPhone 17 Pro Max hit three- to four-week delivery delays on September 13—just one day after preorders opened and six days before launch. The iPhone 18 Pro series opened preorders on the same calendar date (September 12) but generated no similar avalanche of backorders. AppleInsider analysis shows that where the iPhone 17 saw immediate, broad-based constraints, the iPhone 18 Pro started with most configurations still available at launch prices. That gap suggests genuine cooling in early buyer appetite.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
20
Articles
38
Reach
58
A
AnonymousAuthor
