iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders now expected to begin Saturday, September 12
David Joseppi
Posted On 09/09/2026 
Apple could break with its usual iPhone launch routine this week, with a fresh report pointing to Saturday, September 12 as the day iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders will open.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its “Surprise and shine” event today. Ordinarily, Apple would begin accepting pre-orders on the Friday immediately following its September event, which would put this year’s opening on September 11.
Instead, the company is now expected to wait until Saturday. As reported by MacRumors, leaker ShrimpApplePro claims pre-orders will begin on September 12 at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The account has previously shared accurate information about unreleased Apple products, although Apple has yet to confirm the date.
The unusual Saturday launch would avoid opening pre-orders on September 11, which this year marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States. Apple has precedent for making the same change. Following its September 9 event in 2015, pre-orders for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus opened on Saturday, September 12 rather than Friday, September 11.
The reported midnight Pacific opening would also be considerably earlier than Apple’s more recent iPhone pre-order launches, which have typically begun at 5:00 a.m. Pacific. If the report proves accurate, customers in the UK would therefore be able to place an order from 8:00 a.m. BST on Saturday.
A Saturday date has now surfaced from more than one source. German publication Macwelt previously reported that Apple was preparing to move this year’s pre-orders to September 12, lending further weight to the latest claim.
The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to go on sale the following Friday, September 18, assuming Apple follows its usual one-week gap between pre-orders and general availability.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone may follow a different timetable. Recent reports suggest the device, now widely expected to be called the iPhone Duo, will not ship until October, meaning customers hoping to buy Apple’s first foldable may have to wait beyond the iPhone 18 Pro launch.
Apple should confirm pricing, pre-order dates and availability for its new products during today’s event.
