Apple began accepting pre-orders for its new iPhone 8, Apple Watch, and Apple TV models today, with the online store re-opening at 12:01 AM Pacific time. In contrast to prior years, where high-demand models sold out in minutes, most products remain available for in-store “Reserve and Pickup” for Sept. 22, with shipping delivery dates only having slipped to “1–2 weeks.” While it’s possible Apple may simply have more units available this year, it also seems likely that many of the early adopters — those users most likely to be up at 3 AM placing a pre-order — are in fact waiting for the iPhone X, which will not be available for pre-order until Oct. 27.
Apple is also requiring users choosing the “Reserve and Pick Up” option for Sept. 22 to select a specific half-hour time slot to pick up their order, which will hopefully help Apple to more efficiently handle pick-up orders and reduce congestion at the company’s retail stores.
