iPhone 18 Pro lead times climbed sharply in the days following launch, offering an early indication of how demand for the forthcoming iPhone Duo may develop. Apple altered its usual approach this year, dividing the release schedule and introducing its first foldable handset.
The September announcement was limited to the two premium models, the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 18, the lower-priced iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2 are expected to arrive next spring.
Pre-order timeline and availability
Apple began accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on 11 September, with the handsets going on sale shortly afterwards. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are scheduled to open on 16 October at 5 AM PDT/8 AM EDT, with availability following one week later on 23 October.
Pre-orders for the Pro models began quietly, but the picture shifted after the first 24 to 48 hours. Former Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, now a Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Deepwater Asset Management, observed that demand gathered pace. On launch day, pre-order delivery times for the Pro models were 15% longer than the equivalent point a year earlier.
What the lead times suggest
Munster argued that Apple’s decision to split the iPhone 18 launch into two stages is working. He noted that some buyers who would ordinarily choose the base model are paying more to secure one of the pricier Pro variants.
He also stated that Wall Street’s forecast for fiscal 2027 iPhone revenue is 10% too low. With the Street expecting the iPhone to generate roughly £205 billion in sales for the fiscal year ending 25 September 2027, Munster projects revenue closer to £225 billion over the same period.
Tracking the lead times left Munster surprised, as he had expected some traditional Pro buyers to switch to the foldable Duo, which would have shortened waiting times rather than extending them. That prompted two possible explanations. The first is that Duo demand may fall short of expectations, with potential Duo customers instead buying the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max as they normally would.
The second and, in his view, more likely scenario is that traditional Pro buyers are moving up to the foldable Duo, while the strong Pro lead times are being driven by typical base-model buyers stepping up to a premium handset. Munster said the situation will become clearer once Duo pre-orders open on 16 October.
Source
Image: phonearena.com
