Due to overwhelming demand for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, deliveries have been postponed until mid-October, or even later for some customers, just hours after pre-orders opened.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series became available on September 13. However, the high demand for the Pro models, especially the iPhone 16 Pro Max, has caused delivery dates to be pushed back to October, deviating from the initial promised date of September 20.
Within hours, Apple adjusted the delivery window for the iPhone 16 Pro Max to between October 7 and 14. According to AppleInsider, delivery dates for this model began to slip within the first 20 minutes after Apple started accepting pre-orders. This isn’t surprising, given that the iPhone 15 Pro Max was the best-selling model of the previous generation, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is attracting similar attention.
This situation clearly shows the remarkably high demand for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The only exception is the 1 TB version in Natural Titanium, which, at the time of writing, is still available for delivery between September 30 and October 2.
Options to receive the iPhone 16 Pro Max on time
It’s still possible to pick up the iPhone 16 Pro Max on its launch day, September 20, at an Apple store, provided you reserve it in advance and pay the full amount upfront.
Another option for getting the iPhone 16 Pro Max earlier is to purchase it through Walmart, which currently promises delivery before September 25. However, this offer is only available for Verizon customers.
Meanwhile, the smaller iPhone 16 Pro is seeing lower demand. The natural titanium versions and some storage options in other colors are still available for first-day delivery. Unlike the Pro Max, which is in high demand across all configurations, the iPhone 16 Pro is mainly sought after in the 256 GB and 512 GB models, while the 128 GB and 1 TB versions are more readily available. It’s worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts with 256 GB of storage, skipping the lower 128 GB model, though it shares all other specifications with its smaller sibling.
Some non-Pro iPhone 16 models are also facing delivery delays, though they are less significant than those for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The 256 GB version of the iPhone 16 is now expected to ship by September 25, while other variants remain available for September 20 delivery. The Plus model, which will be discontinued next year due to low demand for previous versions, is still available for first-day delivery.
Another Apple product that has seen strong demand is the new Apple Watch Series 10, particularly in the new Jet Black color. Delivery dates for the Jet Black and titanium models have already been pushed to the second half of October, with the potential for further delays in the coming days. This Apple Watch features an improved design, more efficient hardware, artificial intelligence capabilities through watchOS 11, and advanced functions such as sleep apnea detection.
With these significant upgrades, the new Apple Watch is expected to trigger a major upgrade cycle, as many current Apple Watch owners are likely to opt for the new model.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director