When Do iPhone 18 Pro Preorders Start and How Much Do They Cost?
Apple will open preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on Saturday, September 12, at 5 a.m. Pacific Time (8 a.m. Eastern), with both phones arriving in stores and beginning deliveries on September 18.
The launch is the first major iPhone hardware release under new CEO John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook on September 1. For shoppers, though, the immediate change is the price. Apple’s new Pro models start $100 higher than their predecessors, while the September lineup does not include a standard iPhone 18.
“iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage capacities,” Apple says. The company lists starting prices of $1,199 for the Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max.
The Price Has Moved Up
The iPhone 17 now starts at $899, the iPhone Air at $1,099 and the iPhone 16 at $799. Apple has raised the entry prices of several models that remain in its lineup rather than limiting the increase to the new flagships.
“Customers in more than 65 countries and regions … will be able to pre-order iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max beginning at 5 a.m. PT this Saturday, September 12, with availability beginning Friday, September 18,” Apple says.
The standard iPhone 18 is not part of this launch. Reports have pointed to a later release, but Apple has not confirmed when the non-Pro model will arrive. Customers looking for a new-generation iPhone this month, the Pro models are the new phones available to preorder.
Camera Gets A Hardware Change
“The new 48MP Fusion Main camera, now with variable aperture, brings creative control that wasn’t possible before,” Apple says. The company describes the feature as allowing users to customize their experience through new Pro controls.
Six laser-cut blades physically adjust the opening, allowing the camera to select between four apertures: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0. Apple has also added manual controls for shutter speed, white balance and focus.
A variable aperture changes how much light reaches the sensor and can affect depth of field. The wider f/1.48 setting can let in more light in darker conditions, while narrower settings provide greater control over how much of a scene appears in focus.
That makes the camera change different from a software-only photography update. The physical aperture gives the Pro models another way to control the image before computational processing is applied.
| Model | Starting Price | Base Storage | Display | Preorder | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 | 256GB | 6.3-inch | Sept. 12, 5 a.m. PT | Sept. 18 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 | 256GB | 6.9-inch | Sept. 12, 5 a.m. PT | Sept. 18 |
| iPhone Duo | $1,999 | 256GB | Foldable (7.6″ inner / 5.4″ outer) | Oct. 16 | Oct. 23 |
| iPhone 18 | Not announced | Not announced | Not announced | Not announced | Later release reported |
A20 Pro Brings 2nm Silicon
The other major hardware change is Apple’s A20 Pro chip, the company’s first processor built using a 2-nanometer manufacturing process.
“The new 7-core GPU design is up to 40 percent faster than A19 Pro, with neural accelerators in each GPU core that accelerate large language models,” Apple says of A20 Pro. Apple also says the chip is built using 2-nanometer process technology.
The new Pro models start with 256GB of storage, compared with the 128GB starting capacity on earlier Pro models, and both now offer a 2TB maximum option.
These changes sit alongside the camera redesign rather than replacing it. Apple’s pitch for the new Pro generation is therefore a combination of additional storage, new silicon and more control over photography.
Pro Or Pro Max?
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max remain closely matched on hardware. The Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max measures 6.9 inches. The larger model also has a larger battery.
Both use the A20 Pro chip and the same camera system, storage tiers and major features. The $100 difference therefore primarily buys the larger phone and the additional battery capacity that comes with it.
Users who prefer the smaller form factor, the Pro retains the same core hardware without the additional $100.
Colors, Trade-Ins And Financing
Apple is bringing back black for the Pro lineup after leaving it out of the iPhone 17 Pro range. The other finishes are silver, glacier and burgundy.
Apple’s purchase options include 0% APR financing and its monthly upgrade program. “With Apple Trade In, customers trading in iPhone 13 or later can get $175 to $885 (U.S.) in credit instantly,” Apple says. It also says selected carrier offers can provide up to $1,200 in credits for an iPhone 14 or later trade-in.
Apple’s Get Ready tool also lets customers select a phone, confirm carrier information and prepare payment and shipping details before preorders open. The preparation window runs until 9 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday. Preorders begin at 5 a.m. Pacific on Saturday.
September Launch Changes
The iPhone 18 Pro launch combines a higher starting price with a more concentrated September lineup. The $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 Pro Max are each $100 more expensive than their predecessors, although both now start with 256GB of storage.
The new variable-aperture camera and A20 Pro chip provide the clearest hardware changes, while the Pro Max remains primarily a larger-screen and larger-battery version of the Pro.
The standard iPhone 18 is absent from this launch, and Apple has not yet announced when it will arrive. That leaves September buyers with a choice between Apple’s new Pro models and the $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo, while anyone looking for a less expensive new-generation iPhone will have to wait for a later release.
