iPhone 18 Pro Preorders Open to Quiet Start

Preorders for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max opened Saturday morning with less initial frenzy than past launches, with most configurations available for launch-day delivery on September 18. The quiet start, observed hours after sales began at 8 a.m. ET, stands in contrast to previous iPhone launches that often saw immediate sellouts. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299, a $100 increase over the previous generation. Despite the price hike, most models showed no shipping delays in the U.S. shortly after preorders began. The Pro Max's 256GB burgundy model was the first to show a slip, but higher-storage versions in every color remained on track for on-time arrival. Analysts and reports attribute the subdued start to several factors. The preorders shifted to Saturday to avoid the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, an unusual timing that likely suppressed initial volume as shoppers follow different weekend routines. Consumers also appear to be holding out for the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable, which was unveiled alongside the Pro models but won't accept preorders until October 16. That device ships a week later for $1,999.