I tried to buy an iPhone 18 Pro Max about a week ago, but every nearby Apple Store was sold out, including locations in the next state. Verizon also didn't have any available, and the store employees couldn't say when new inventory would arrive. I understand that launch demand is high and that I should have preordered, but based on past iPhone releases, when does supply usually become easier to find?
4 Answers
Some carrier orders are showing fairly long delays. For example, a Pro Max ordered through T-Mobile on September 20 was estimated to ship between October 29 and November 4, so carrier availability may take a while to improve.
Ordering online is probably the safest option. The order generally isn’t charged until it ships, so you can place one for the earliest available delivery date and cancel it if you find a phone locally first. Stores usually can’t predict exactly when their next shipment will arrive.
Launch shortages are pretty normal, especially for the Pro Max and popular colors or storage options. Availability often starts improving around mid-October, but waiting until November may give you more choices. The phone won’t become obsolete while you wait, so there’s no need to overpay or rush into a difficult-to-find configuration.
Store inventory can appear unexpectedly. Some locations in Las Vegas received a shipment recently, so it’s worth checking nearby stores regularly rather than relying on a single availability estimate.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload