There are only hours left before iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders begin, and a few checks tonight could make the difference between a quick order and spending precious minutes fixing account or payment details tomorrow morning.
Apple opens orders at 5 a.m. Pacific and 8 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, September 12. Customers hoping for delivery on the September 18 launch date should already know which iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max configuration they want.
First, make sure you are signed into the Apple Store with the Apple Account you intend to use. Check your delivery address, phone number and saved payment method, particularly if you have not ordered directly from Apple recently.
Decide on color and storage tonight
Do not leave the expensive decisions until ordering begins. iPhone 18 Pro comes in black, silver, glacier and burgundy, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage choices.
If you’re unsure, our iPhone 18 Pro color guide looks at the four finishes, while our storage guide explains which capacity is likely to suit different buyers.
Anyone using Apple Trade In should also have the current device available and know its condition. Buyers using financing or a carrier promotion should make sure they understand the eligibility requirements before the store opens.
Save your configuration if you can
Apple lets customers prepare an iPhone configuration ahead of ordering. This does not reserve the device, but it can remove much of the configuration and payment work from Saturday morning.
It is also worth having the Apple Store app available as an alternative to Apple’s website. Heavy launch traffic can occasionally make one route feel quicker than another.
Finally, set an alarm a little before 5 a.m. Pacific or 8 a.m. Eastern. Apple’s store normally transitions into pre-order mode around the advertised opening, although availability can take a few moments to appear for everyone.
Pre-orders begin Saturday, with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max reaching customers and stores on Friday, September 18.