iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Order Date Leaked Here’s When Sales Could Begin

Apple could delay iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders to September 12 this year. Here’s everything we know about the expected pre-order timing, iPhone Ultra foldable, specs, pricing and India availability.

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The next iPhone launch that Apple is planning in September might turn out to be something very different from how things usually happen at Apple. Along with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which everyone is waiting for, Apple plans to release its first ever foldable iPhone called the iPhone Ultra. It will be notable not only for that, but also because it is going to be the first major iPhone launch under the new CEO of Apple John Ternus.

Of course, the new iPhones will be the main focus of attention, but it is also possible that Apple will make a very unusual move this year regarding their pre-order process. Instead of opening pre-orders right after the launch event on Friday, Apple is planning to do that on the following Saturday, September 12. This might be related to the symbolic date of September 11 in the US.

iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Order Date

The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first-ever foldable iPhone will reportedly make their debut when Apple hosts its special event on September 9. Typically, the company takes up pre-orders for its new iPhones the very Friday after the launch event. Thus, Apple will be taking pre-orders starting September 11 in accordance with its tradition.

But now, according to a report in Macwelt, Apple might shift the pre-order date to September 12. As the report in Macworld points out, the company could choose September 12 as its pre-order date due to the fact that September 11 is a day of mourning in the US.

The report also states that the time of the opening of the pre-orders by Apple can be changed from the usual timing of 5am PST to midnight PST on September 12. For Indian customers, this means that pre-orders will start approximately at 12:30pm IST on September 12.

Although pre-ordering on a Saturday seems unusual for Apple, this does not mean that Apple has never done something like this before. In 2015, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus were pre-ordered on a Saturday, September 12, just after September 11.

Apple Watch Models Could Follow the Same Schedule

It might not only affect the iPhone 18 Pro series. According to previous rumors, Apple might also present the new Apple Watches in September. Namely, we could see the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 models.

If that report turns out to be true, all these devices might become available for pre-order on September 12 as well. So Apple might just move the entire schedule of launching the new devices back by one day instead of changing anything specific for new iPhones.

But there might be an exception concerning the foldable iPhone Ultra. According to some previous sources, Apple will not let people pre-order the foldable iPhone simultaneously with the iPhone 18 Pro models. It is likely to be presented in September, but pre-ordered and sold later in the month.

Apple September Event

Apple's iPhone event scheduled for September 9th is expected to be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park. The event is scheduled for 10am PT, which translates to 10:30pm IST in India.

This event is going to be particularly crucial for Apple due to the fact that a leadership change is about to happen. As per recent reports, John Ternus is going to be named as the new CEO of Apple, taking charge from Tim Cook. This means that Tim Cook is going to step down from his role and take up the job of Executive Chairman.

Hence, this September iPhone event could be one of the most crucial events for Ternus in his new capacity. In fact, this event becomes all the more crucial in case there is any kind of innovation in terms of foldable iPhone.

Apple Could Change Its iPhone Release Strategy

However, Apple may also be planning something bigger concerning the future of their lineup and schedule. As per some of the recent reports, the upcoming standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2nd gen might not make an appearance along with the Pro models this year.

Rather, both devices have been rumored to get delayed until 2027. Assuming the rumors turn out to be true, the September event at Apple might feature only the premium variants of iPhones, with iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra becoming the main new iPhone releases.

It is quite surprising that Apple might be trying something which is quite different from what the company has done so far, i.e., launching all of the variants of iPhones at once in one go at their September event.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Expected Specifications

There are high chances that both devices will maintain a design philosophy akin to the existing iPhone 17 Pro lineup even though Apple may roll out some enhancements to the lineup.

It is claimed that one of these enhancements will include making the Dynamic Island smaller in order to achieve a more attractive look of the phone's front face. The other change may be seen in the addition of the new colors as well as camera upgrades of these phones, which can differentiate them from the existing models of the iPhone line.

As for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, it is rumored to boast a 48MP main camera with the feature of a variable aperture. It means that there will be greater flexibility for the user regarding the amount of entering light.

On the inside, both phones are rumored to be powered by the next-gen Apple A20 Pro chipset. According to the rumor, this chip will be produced by using the 2nm manufacturing process.

However, all the above-mentioned information is purely hypothetical at the moment.

Apple's First Foldable iPhone

One of the main draws of the September event could be the first foldable iPhone. Currently, there are rumours about how the device will be named and the naming suggests that it will be called the iPhone Ultra and it is supposed to have a book folding form factor.

At the moment, there are reports which suggest that the foldable iPhone could have an outer display that ranges between 5.3-5.5 inches. In addition, once it is opened, it can supposedly provide a bigger 7.6-7.8 inches OLED display.

With the bigger screen, the users could experience the improved 120Hz ProMotion technology by Apple for smoother scrolling and animations. Apple is also reportedly working on the thin body and a better hinge design that would be extremely important if it wants to make its first foldable iPhone a competitor of other foldable devices.

The iPhone Ultra is said to be the most premium product in the line-up by Apple, meaning its cost might be higher compared to that of the iPhone 18 Pro. Delayed availability for its pre-orders will further make this release quite different from other iPhones.

iPhone 18 Series Could Be More Expensive This Year

Price is yet another factor that may become important to the would-be buyer when considering an iPhone model to purchase. According to reports, Apple may see a price hike for its latest range of iPhones due to increasing costs of memory components among other reasons.

CEO Tim Cook at one point in the past had mentioned the influence of component prices on the company and the current memory component cost pressure may make it hard for the company to bypass price hikes.

It is the cost of the flexible OLED screen, the hinge and the internal components of the phone that makes the foldable iPhone Ultra likely to have a high price tag compared to other models.

This may mean that for a customer whose priority is to get a new iPhone as quickly as possible, then iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max would be the easier options while the foldable iPhone Ultra may appeal more to the customer willing to pay extra for Apple's first foldable design.

iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Orders

As far as consumers in India go, the schedule mentioned above means that September 12 can be a critical date. In case Apple sticks to the report about opening sales at midnight Pacific Time, iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders can open up at around 12:30 pm IST on September 12.

However, it is likely to be significantly earlier compared to Apple's standard practice of opening pre-orders at 5:30 pm IST. Nonetheless, the exact time and availability remain to be seen. Apple is supposed to announce all these details as part of the September 9 event. The firm will disclose information regarding pricing, availability and the schedule for each phone.

This year, Apple can hold not only another iPhone release event, but also reveal the foldable iPhone and make a significant leadership change. Therefore, September 18 can be one of the most exciting iPhone release events in the history of the company.