As of Sunday morning, most versions and configurations of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were still scheduled by Apple for delivery on September 18.

That is relatively unusual given the strong demand that typically pushes delivery dates for new Pro iPhones back soon after preorders begin.

There are several possible explanations.

Perhaps most notably, some customers may be delaying an iPhone 18 Pro purchase while waiting for the foldable iPhone Duo.

Preorders for the iPhone Duo are expected to begin on October 16. With the foldable expected to cost considerably more than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, some buyers may be weighing their options before spending on a new phone.

Others may simply be saving their money for Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone.

Apple may have prepared more iPhone 18 Pro units

Another possibility is that Apple has simply produced more iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max units ahead of this year’s launch.

A larger initial inventory would delay the point at which models begin selling out or delivery dates slip, even if actual sales remain relatively strong.

In other words, the fact that most iPhone 18 Pro models are still available for September 18 delivery does not necessarily indicate weak demand. Apple may simply have done a better job of building inventory to avoid the shortages often seen during the first days of a new iPhone launch.

Current delivery estimates nevertheless show that some configurations are attracting greater demand than others.

For the iPhone 18 Pro, most configurations are still expected to arrive on September 18.

The exceptions are the Burgundy and Silver models with 256GB and 512GB of storage, which now have estimated delivery dates of September 24-29.

That suggests demand for certain colors and storage options has exceeded initial supply, though not enough to cause widespread delays across the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Pro Max draws more interest, but no frenzy yet

The picture is somewhat different for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Several configurations of Apple’s top-end model have already seen delivery dates pushed into October, suggesting stronger demand than for the smaller Pro.

The Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro Max with 256GB, 512GB and 1TB of storage is now expected to arrive between October 6 and 13.

The 256GB and 512GB Glacier models, the 256GB Black version, and the 256GB and 512GB Silver models have similar delivery estimates.

Meanwhile, the Black 512GB and Glacier 1TB configurations are expected to arrive between September 24 and 29.

Other iPhone 18 Pro Max configurations remain scheduled for delivery on the September 18 launch date.

One particularly notable case is the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max, which remains available for launch-day delivery.

Its $2,499 price may be one reason, potentially indicating that Apple overestimated demand for an iPhone with 2TB of internal storage.

The pattern also highlights how demand for the iPhone 18 Pro Max varies considerably by configuration.

More mainstream storage options are showing signs of tighter supply, while the most expensive 2TB model remains readily available.

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB of storage. The 512GB version costs $1,399, while the 1TB and 2TB models are priced at $1,799 and $2,399, respectively.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts $100 higher, at $1,299 for 256GB. The 512GB model costs $1,499, the 1TB version $1,899 and the 2TB option $2,499.

That makes the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max one of the most expensive iPhones ever, potentially narrowing the pool of customers willing to order it immediately.

If demand does not pick up significantly, the preorder pattern could raise questions about the strength of Apple’s latest Pro launch, a product line that traditionally attracts a surge of orders as soon as sales begin.

The key question is whether the unusually broad availability really signals weaker-than-expected demand or simply reflects Apple entering the launch with more inventory.

The upcoming October preorder window for the iPhone Duo could also be persuading some potential iPhone 18 Pro Max buyers to wait.

Hai Phong