Summary of iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders start Saturday: Deals, specs, and what to know
- Pre-orders for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max begin Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PT.
- Carriers including Verizon are offering up to $1,200 in trade-in credit, while Apple’s own trade-in program can give $175 to $885 instantly.
- The Pro models feature a 48-megapixel variable aperture camera, A20 Pro chip with vapor chamber cooling, and the biggest battery improvement ever on an iPhone Pro Max.
- Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, was announced with optimized apps from Slack, Netflix, and Zoom coming at launch.
- Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 are all available to pre-order now and will ship on September 18.
iPhone 18 Pro pre-order date and availability
Apple has officially set the date for pre-orders of its latest flagship smartphones. Starting Saturday, September 12, at 5 a.m. PT, customers in the U.S. can place their order for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max through Apple’s website or the Apple Store app.
The phones will be available in stores and online worldwide beginning Friday, September 18. Alongside the iPhones, Apple is also launching the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5, all of which are available for pre-order now and will hit shelves on the same date.
Apple has also announced new Mac mini and Mac Studio models, though those won’t arrive in stores until Tuesday, September 22.
What is new in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup
What this means for iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders start Saturday
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max pack several hardware upgrades that Apple says are the most advanced it has ever made. Both models run on the new A20 Pro chip, which includes a vapor chamber cooling system designed to keep performance high during intensive tasks like on-device AI work.
Apple says the battery life on the Pro Max is getting the largest single increase it has ever delivered for an iPhone. The Pro model also benefits from updated battery designs that take advantage of more efficient silicon.
On the camera side, Apple has introduced a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with a variable aperture. This allows the lens to automatically adjust depth of field and handle different lighting conditions. Users also get new Pro controls inside the Camera app, which let them customize which settings appear most often. Photographic Styles have been updated with texture and grain controls for more creative freedom.
Both phones run iOS 27, which includes the next generation of Apple Intelligence and an entirely new version of Siri that Apple says can use personal context to help with daily tasks.
Carrier deals and trade-in offers worth up to $1,200
Before pre-orders even start, Verizon has announced five separate offers for the iPhone 18 lineup. The maximum discount tops out at $1,200 off, though only certain lines qualify for that full amount. Apple itself is offering up to $1,200 in credit when customers trade in an iPhone 14 or newer in any condition and choose a plan with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon directly through Apple.
For customers who prefer to buy directly from Apple without a carrier contract, Apple Trade In can give between $175 and $885 in instant credit for trading in an iPhone 13 or higher. That credit can lower monthly payments if you choose Apple Upgrade (a leasing program run by Klarna) or Apple Card Monthly Installments, which charges 0 percent APR and gives 3 percent Daily Cash back up front.
Apple Upgrade lease pricing breaks down this way:
- iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max: starting at $34.99 per month for a 24-month lease
- Apple Watch: starting at $11.99 per month for a 24-month lease
- Mac Studio: starting at $48.99 per month for a 36-month lease
At the end of a lease, customers can upgrade to the latest model, buy the device with a single payment, or return it and exit the program.
Apple’s first foldable and Samsung’s response
Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, was announced separately but is part of the same product wave. In an interview with Apple CEO John Ternus and SVP of Marketing Greg Joswiak, the executives explained that the Duo’s month-and-a-half gap between announcement and launch is intentional. It mirrors the three-month lead time Apple gave developers for the original iPad in 2010, allowing app makers to prepare. Ternus and Joswiak specifically highlighted Slack, Netflix, and Zoom as apps that will be optimized for the foldable from day one.
Ternus also commented on rival foldables, noting that devices like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 use what he called “cheap-feeling plastic” surfaces. He praised the Duo’s nanotexture finish as a better solution for foldable displays.
Samsung, meanwhile, has responded in its own way. The company released a new ad featuring a man named Tim Cook from Palmerston North, New Zealand, who looks a lot like Apple’s former CEO. The ad promotes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and takes a playful jab at Apple’s rivalry with Samsung. It is the latest in a long line of Samsung ads that poke fun at its biggest competitor.
Which deal makes sense for you: 18 Pro Saturday
For shoppers who want to compare the new iPhone 18 Pro against older models or the Android competition, tools like the phone comparison tool and phone finder can help narrow down choices. If you are still deciding whether to upgrade, the best phones guide covers the top devices across all brands.
Apple is making its strongest push yet for buyers to go straight to the company for financing and trade-in deals. With pre-orders opening Saturday, the biggest decision for most people will be choosing which path saves the most money: carrier credit, Apple Trade In, or a lease through Apple Upgrade. Verizon’s offers and Apple’s own $1,200 trade-in deal both require a qualifying trade-in, so check what your current phone is worth before you decide.
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