iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max Shipping Estimates Extending Into October

Apple began accepting pre-orders for all four new iPhone 16 models today, and shipping estimates for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max on Apple's online store in the U.S. are already beginning to slip into October for many configurations.

iphone 16 pro apple intelligence
As of 6:45 a.m. Pacific Time, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max were facing a 2-4 week shipping delay for some configurations on Apple's online store, with delivery estimates stretching as far out as October 14. The lower-end iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus were largely still available for launch-day delivery on Friday, September 20 as of that time.

Inventory will inevitably continue to tighten for both delivery and Apple Store pickup as the day progresses, so order quickly if you are planning to.

iPhone 16 Pro models have several new features, including larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays with thinner bezels, longer battery life, a new Camera Control button for quick access to camera functions, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, a faster A18 Pro chip, Wi-Fi 7 support, faster 5G, faster charging, and more. Both of the devices support Apple Intelligence, which will begin rolling out with iOS 18.1 in October. Apple Intelligence is also coming to the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Plus.

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Top Rated Comments

BelgianChoklit Avatar
18 months ago
A lot of these so called "delays" are pure marketing tricks. I recall last year colleagues of mine who got the 15 Pro / Pro Max and their shipping date was mid October and they all got theirs on launch day in the end...

The last time I recall the shipping delays actually being correct was with the iPhone X launch - which was unseen as I recall myself. I had ordered my iPhone X 256GB in the very first seconds so I got it on launch day, but a couple of seconds later shipping had slipped to mid-late December and even 2018.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macman01101 Avatar
18 months ago
I believe this is artificial. On Reddit, on MacRumors, everywhere people are saying they aren’t going to buy this year.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slippery-pete Avatar
18 months ago
For all those saying it is a "marketing gimmick", come back on 9/20 and see how many complaints there are from people expecting a bump to launch day delivery from October delivery range.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
18 months ago

I believe this is artificial. On Reddit, on MacRumors, everywhere people are saying they aren’t going to buy this year.
You are looking at a very skewed sample - the people on MacRumors and the Apple/iPhone parts of Reddit are self-selected to be fairly hardcore, compared to the general public, and many have very recent iPhones, often last year's model. But the general public isn't like that. And there's tons of people out there with phones that are older. I don't think it's artificial. If anything, it may simply show a slight imbalance between the percentage mix that Apple predicted and what people actually want.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bryan Bowler Avatar
18 months ago

And for what?

Button that none needs
5 yo design
Slow charging speeds
Locked-in-ecosystem design
Mediocre cameras
Pro Max price tag
Go back to sleep or go for a walk…
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F23 Avatar
18 months ago
I imagine Sith Lord Tim currently in his throne room surrounded by Pro Display XDRs looking at pre order numbers coming in and smiling gently.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)