iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro pre-order shipping delays

As expected, we’re seeing delays in ship dates for several iPhone 16 models. Luckily, there appear to be plenty of them available if you’re in the market for an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, as Apple.com is still listing a September 20 ship date.

The Pro models are the most sought after. While there are still three base Pro colors coming out on day one for the 128GB models, the White Titanium color has been delayed between September 30th and October 2nd. The Pro Max has been delayed until October 4th at the latest for all colors in the 256GB model, and October 14th. If you wanted that phone, you’ll have to wait a little longer.

For a quick overview of when you can expect to receive your iPhone 16 if you buy it from Apple, check out the table below:

Hello, early October

The moment we’ve been dreading has arrived: Apple.com preorders now show October 7 through October 14 as the estimated ship dates for select models. I tested with a 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max in all four colors and I was given early October ship dates instead of September 20.

Thankfully, the regular iPhone 16 Pro is still available to ship on September 20, so you can still lock in your day-one shipping bonus on the model. It’s worth noting, however, that if the Pro Max already gets bumped, it’s only a matter of time before the iPhone 16 Pro finds itself in the same predicament.

The regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models will also be available from September 20.

Perhaps demand for the iPhone 16 Pro Max is much higher than the other models, or perhaps Apple just didn’t make enough of them. Either way, get those Apple pre-orders in now if you want an iPhone on day one.

Apple Deals from Amazon

While Amazon may not be the leader in terms of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro pre-order deals, the major retailer has some fantastic Apple deals that you can score right now.

Get ready for iPhone 16 gaming

During the keynote, Apple said the new iPhone 16 family (standard and Pro models) will benefit from better video game experiences, citing 30% higher sustained performance than the iPhone 15. Combined with access to a wider selection of AAA titles, the iPhone 16 shapes up to be a solid gaming phone.

But you’ll want something like the Backbone One controller to get the most out of mobile gaming. The Backbone One plugs into your iPhone for an instantly enhanced gaming experience thanks to ergonomic controls. There’s no additional charging required, so the iPhone 16’s improved thermal design and claims of better battery life should mean you can game for hours on end.

AirPods 4 start at $129

There will be two base AirPods models, replacing the very old AirPods 2 and the slightly not so old AirPods 3. Each model will have its own feature set, with a new, more premium option including noise-cancelling technology straight from the AirPods Pro 2.

Check out our AirPods 4 pre-order guide and our AirPods 4 hands-on review for our first impressions after testing the earbuds at the Apple event.

AirPods 4: From $129 @ Amazon

T-Mobile is busy

I checked T-Mobile’s pre-order status to determine if I wanted to trade in my iPhone 14 Pro Max using the carrier’s benefits.

To my surprise, clicking the iPhone 16 pre-order option on the main screen led me to a waiting room before I could even see the final cost of getting the phone. After about 10 minutes, I was finally inside. With everyone in the US waking up, demand seems to be relatively high, at least on T-Mobile.

Despite the high demand, a shipping date of 9/20 was still given, so that’s good news.

iPhone 16 pre-orders still available… For now

I just checked out the Apple Store website for a few iPhone 16 models and colors. They’re expected to ship on September 20, 2024. That’s the first day, so Apple seems to have plenty of inventory and is ready to meet buyers’ needs.

There’s no way to know how long Apple (and other retailers) will have the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro in stock for day one shipping, so don’t wait to pre-order if you’re interested. Between the new features, better cameras, new chip, and all the other upgrades, it’s a worthy purchase.

Which iPhone model should I choose…

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Biggest Differences Explained! – YouTube

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Still not sure which phone to buy between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro? Editors from Tom’s Guide sat down right after the Apple event to discuss the biggest differences and decide which device from the iPhone 16 family to buy. The answers may surprise you.

Watch the full video here.

Free iPhone 16 Pro?!

One of the best pre-order deals we’ve seen so far comes from T-Mobile. The carrier is offering an iPhone 16 for free (up to $1,000 off the retail price) with a qualifying trade-in. You’ll need the Go5G Next or Go5G Business Next plan to get the $1,000 discount.

If you’re looking for a cheaper plan, you can opt for the Go5G Plus or Go5G Business Plus plan. You’ll save $830 with the trade-in option. This discount will get you a base iPhone 16 without having to pay anything for it.

Don’t forget the Apple Watch

In addition to the iPhone 16, the Apple Watch Series 10 is also available for pre-order. Apple Watch 10 pre-order deals can get you up to $365 credit with trade-in at Apple and Best Buy, but you can also pre-order from carriers and retailers like Amazon. It ships on September 20, the same day as the iPhone 16.

The Apple Watch Series 10 comes in Rose Gold, Silver, and Jet Black. As for the new features, check out our Apple Watch Series 10 hands-on review to find out more.

Apple Watch Series 10: Up to $365 Off Trade-In

You need a charger

For the past few years, Apple has stopped selling charging bricks with the iPhone, only a charging cord. You can purchase a charging brick directly from Apple when you pick up your new iPhone 16, but there are also a number of third-party charging accessories that we recommend.

For example, we got to check out Twelve South’s PlugBug at IFA 2024. It’s a 50W charging brick, so it can deliver the iPhone 16’s 45W wired fast-charging speeds. But the best part? The PlugBug has Find My, so if you forget where you left it (or which family member took it), you can easily track it down in your iPhone’s Find My app.

We scored one with the iPhone Upgrade Program

One of our editors, Kate Kozuch, was able to pre-order her iPhone 16 Pro Max through the iPhone Upgrade Program.

The iPhone Upgrade Program is Apple’s incentive for customers to upgrade their iPhone annually. Each iPhone 16 variant has a different monthly fee depending on version and storage, but the fee includes Apple Care.

Customers also have the option to finance their iPhone purchase through Apple and own their phone outright after paying it off. If you’re the type who always wants the latest iPhone, the iPhone Upgrade Program may be a good option for you.

Let the pre-orders begin!

Pre-orders are live online and at your favorite brick-and-mortar retailers. So far, we haven’t heard any reports of the phones being out of stock anywhere, so whichever retailer has the deal that best suits your tastes should be good.

While it’s unclear how much stock there will be of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, it’s always a good idea to get your pre-order in as early as possible. We’re expecting shipping dates to move later in the day, meaning you could be pre-ordering a phone that won’t arrive until after the September 20 launch date.