iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders open on Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PT, according to Apple’s press release, with deliveries and in-store pickup from Friday, September 18. That is 1:00 pm in the UK and 5:30 pm in India on the same day, per Apple’s regional Store pages.
The Apple Store app is the fastest route, because Apple lets you set up the order in advance and confirm it when the clock hits. This guide covers what to decide before Saturday, the steps on the morning, and how Apple Trade In fits into the checkout. Apple has not published a support article for pre-ordering hardware in the Apple Store app. The steps below follow the pre-order flow Apple described in its newsroom last September, which let customers choose a model, carrier, payment method and trade-in in advance, and Apple’s own Trade In page. The app’s screens may differ slightly this year.
Decide the model, storage and colour first
Apple’s US Store lists four capacities for each model, and the price gaps are the same on both phones. Colours are Burgundy, Glacier, Silver and Black, all at the same price.
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| Storage | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | $1,199 | $1,299 |
| 512GB | $1,399 | $1,499 |
| 1TB | $1,799 | $1,899 |
| 2TB | $2,399 | $2,499 |
On monthly terms, Apple’s release quotes $49.95 a month over 24 months for the 256GB Pro and $54.12 for the Pro Max with Apple Card Monthly Installments, which carry 0 percent APR and 3 percent Daily Cash. Apple’s overview page also lists an Apple Upgrade lease from $34.99 a month. Our iPhone 18 Pro price guide compares the options.
How to get ready in the Apple Store app before Saturday
Last year Apple opened a get-ready mode in the app the evening before pre-orders, and Apple’s newsroom said customers were then one click away when the window opened. The US Store page is already showing a get ready for pre-order state for the iPhone 18 Pro.
- Install or update the Apple Store app and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Open the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max page and tap the get ready option.
- Choose your model, colour, storage and, if you want them, accessories such as the Clear Case or wrist strap.
- Pick your carrier, or choose the unlocked SIM-free version. Apple’s release lists the US as an eSIM-only market, so there is no tray to consider.
- Choose a payment method. Apple Card Monthly Installments can be pre-approved here, per Apple’s newsroom.
- Add a trade-in if you have an eligible device, then save your selections.
- Set an alarm for 5 a.m. PT on Saturday, September 12.
How to place the order at 5 a.m. PT
- Open the Apple Store app a few minutes before 5 a.m. PT and confirm you are signed in.
- When the store opens, tap the saved selection. Apple’s description is that the order is one click away at that point.
- Review the delivery or pickup choice. Apple’s release says both delivery and Apple Store pickup are available from September 18.
- Confirm the trade-in and payment details, then place the order.
- Check the confirmation email. If you added a trade-in, Apple sends preparation instructions with it.
How Apple Trade In works during checkout
Apple’s newsroom quotes $175 to $885 in credit for an iPhone 13 or later through Apple Trade In, and the Store page mentions carrier offers up to $1,200 for an eligible trade-in with AT&T or T-Mobile. Apple has not published per-model values; the estimate comes from the interactive tool in the app.
- Get an estimate in the app by answering Apple’s questions about model, condition and configuration.
- The credit applies to the new purchase or comes as an Apple Gift Card, and Apple says the estimate is valid for 14 days after you receive your new device.
- Prepare the old phone: back it up, turn off Find My and sign out, per Apple’s confirmation email.
- In store, a Specialist evaluates the device on the spot, and Apple warns the credit may differ from the online estimate if the condition does not match.
- Processing by mail takes 2 to 3 weeks, with credit landing in 3 to 5 business days after that. Ineligible devices are recycled free.
If the order will not go through
- The app shows nothing at 5 a.m.: force quit and reopen it; the website at apple.com opens at the same time.
- The saved selection has vanished: rebuild it from the product page. Apple has not said how long the get-ready state persists.
- The delivery date jumped to October: that configuration sold through its first allocation. Try Apple Store pickup, another colour or another capacity.
- You want the foldable instead: the iPhone Duo has its own pre-order on October 16 at 5 a.m. PT and does not appear in Saturday’s window.
Apple’s full spec list is in our iPhone 18 Pro launch coverage. The phones reach 65 countries on September 18 and 20 more on September 25.
