As expected, Apple opened up pre-orders for the new iPhone XS models and Apple Watch Series 4 in the wee hours of this morning, While the ship dates on the iPhone XS Max started to slip within about a half-hour, according to MacRumors, the standard iPhone XS models remain available for Sept. 21 delivery even now — perhaps not surprising considering its similarity to last year’s iPhone X — as does the lower-capacity 64 GB iPhone XS Max. Apple Watch Series 4 models, on the other hand, are almost all showing shipping times now of “3-4 weeks” suggesting higher demand and/or more limited availability of the new Apple Watch models.
As usual, shipping dates and availability on the Apple Store in the U.S. will vary between carriers, and SIM-free iPhones continue to be more readily available than on-contract carrier versions. Both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max can also be ordered directly from most carriers, which will of course also have different availability based on demand and stock levels.
As in prior years, Apple has also likely allocated some quantity of units to be available for walk-in store purchases when the new iPhone and Apple Watch models go on sale next Friday, Sept. 21.