Update
Hello, beginning of October
The moment we’ve been dreading has arrived: Pre-orders on Apple.com now show October 7-14 as the expected ship date for select models. I tested it with a 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max in all four colors and received shipping dates in early October instead of September 20.
Fortunately, the regular iPhone 16 Pro is still available to ship on September 20, so you can still secure the model on day one. However, it’s worth noting that if the Pro Max has already been delayed, it’s only a matter of time before the iPhone 16 Pro gets into the same situation.
The regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models will also be available on September 20th.
Maybe the demand for the iPhone 16 Pro Max is much higher than the other models, or Apple didn’t make enough of them. Either way, place your Apple pre-orders if you want an iPhone from day one.
Apple offers from Amazon
While Amazon isn’t one of the frontrunners when it comes to iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro pre-order deals, the giant retailer has some fantastic Apple deals you can snap up now.
Get ready for iPhone 16 gaming
During the keynote, Apple said the new iPhone 16 family (standard and Pro models) will benefit from better video gaming experiences, citing 30% higher sustained performance than the iPhone 15. Coupled with access to a wider range of AAA titles, the iPhone 16 is shaping up to be a solid gaming phone.
But to get the most out of mobile gaming, you’ll want something like the Backbone One controller. The Backbone One plugs into your iPhone and provides an instantly improved gaming experience thanks to ergonomic controls. It doesn’t require additional charging, so the iPhone 16’s improved thermal design and longer battery life should allow for hours of uninterrupted gaming.
AirPods 4 starting at $129
Going forward, there will be two base AirPod models, replacing the very old AirPods 2 and the slightly older AirPods 3. Each model has its own feature set, as well as a new, higher-end option, including noise-cancelling technology straight from the AirPods Pro 2.
Check out our AirPods 4 pre-order guide and our AirPods 4 hands-on review to see our first impressions after testing the earbuds at the Apple event.
AirPods 4: From $129 on Amazon
T-Mobile is busy
I checked T-Mobile’s pre-order status to see if I wanted to switch and trade in my iPhone 14 Pro Max using the carrier’s incentives.
To my surprise, when I clicked on the iPhone 16 pre-order option on the main screen, I ended up in a waiting room before I could even see the final cost of the phone. After about 10 minutes, I was finally in. Now that everyone in the US is waking up, demand seems to be relatively high, at least on T-Mobile.
Despite high demand, the shipping date was given as September 20th, so that’s good news.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 are still possible … for now
I just checked the Apple Store website for different models and colors of the iPhone 16 and it is scheduled to ship on September 20, 2024. That’s the first day, so Apple seems to have plenty of inventory in stock and ready to meet buyers’ requests.
However, we can’t know how long Apple (and other retailers) will keep the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro in stock for day one delivery, so don’t wait to pre-order if you’re interested. Given the new features, better cameras, new chip, and all the other upgrades, it’s a worthwhile buy.
Which iPhone model should I choose…
Watch on
Still not sure which phone to buy between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro? The editors of the Tom’s Guide team sat down shortly after the Apple event to discuss the biggest differences and decide which device in the iPhone 16 family they would each buy. The answers might surprise you
Watch the full video here.
Free iPhone 16 Pro?!
One of the best pre-order deals we’ve seen so far comes from T-Mobile. The carrier is offering a free iPhone 16 (up to $1,000 off) with eligible trade-ins. You’ll need the Go5G Next or Go5G Business Next plan to get the $1,000 off.
If you’re looking for a cheaper plan, you can get the Go5G Plus or Go5G Business Plus plans and save $830 when you trade in. That’s a solid discount that gets you a base iPhone 16 without having to pay out of pocket.
Don’t forget the Apple Watch
In addition to the iPhone 16, the Apple Watch Series 10 is also available for pre-order. Apple Watch 10 pre-orders will earn you up to $365 in trade-in credits from Apple and Best Buy, but you can also pre-order from wireless carriers and retailers like Amazon. It will ship on September 20, the same day as the iPhone 16.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is available in rose gold, silver and jet black. You can find more information about the new features in our practical test of the Apple Watch Series 10.
Apple Watch Series 10: Up to $365 off with trade-in
You need a charger
For the past few years, Apple hasn’t sold chargers with the iPhone – just a charging cable. You can buy a charger directly from Apple when you pick up your new iPhone 16, but there are also a number of third-party charging accessories that we recommend.
For example, at IFA 2024, we got to see Twelve South’s PlugBug, a 50W charging brick that can match the iPhone 16’s 45W wired fast-charging speed. But the best part? The PlugBug has a Find My feature, so if you’re not sure where you left it (or which family member stole it), you can easily find it in the iPhone’s Find My app.
We hit the jackpot with the iPhone upgrade program
One of our editors, Kate Kozuch, was able to secure her pre-order for the iPhone 16 Pro Max through the iPhone Upgrade Program.
The iPhone Upgrade Program is an incentive from Apple for customers to upgrade their iPhone every year. Each iPhone 16 variant has a different monthly fee depending on the version and storage, but the fee also includes Apple Care.
Customers also have the option to finance the purchase of their iPhone through Apple and own the phone outright after paying it off. If you’re the type of person who always wants to have the latest iPhone, the iPhone Upgrade Program could make a lot of sense for you.
Let the pre-orders begin!
Pre-orders are available online and at your favorite brick-and-mortar stores. So far, we haven’t heard any reports of the phones being sold out anywhere, so you should contact the retailer with the offer that best suits your tastes.
While it’s not clear how much stock there is of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, it’s always a good idea to get your pre-order in early, as we expect delivery dates to shift throughout the day, so expect to pre-order a phone that won’t arrive until after the September 20 launch date.
