Average wait times for Apple’s new iPhone 18 Pro models have lengthened to 2.6 weeks across eight countries just three days into pre-orders, a jump that veteran Apple watcher Gene Munster called a historically favorable sign for demand.

Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, posted his latest tracker Monday. Lead times rose from 1.6 weeks the day before to 2.6 weeks, matching where last year’s Pro models stood at the same point in the cycle. Part of the one-day surge, he noted, came from buyers returning to their computers after pre-orders opened on Saturday rather than the usual Friday. The more important takeaway, he said, is that wait times are moving higher.

Gene Munster via X:
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iPhone Lead Time Tracker 3 days into Pre-Orders: We’re seeing average lead times of 2.6 weeks across 8 countries. That’s in line with where the Pro models were last year.

My take: Most importantly, the lead times jumped from 1.6 weeks yesterday to 2.6 weeks today. Part of that jump is people are back in front of their computers (pre-orders started on Saturday). The important part is lead times are going up, which has historically been a favorable sign for demand.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max began September 12. The phones go on sale Friday, September 18. This year’s launch is unusually narrow: Apple skipped the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air, delaying those models until 2027 amid memory and chip shortages, and scheduled its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, for pre-order on October 16 and availability October 23. Only the two Pro models are available now, at starting prices of $1,199 and $1,299.

Some configurations, especially popular Pro Max storage and color combinations, already show delivery windows stretching into early October. That tightening inventory is what Munster’s tracker is capturing. Rising lead times have often preceded stronger-than-expected iPhone units in past cycles, which is why he flagged the move as constructive for Apple.

Not every analyst reads the same data the same way. Bank of America and JPMorgan have noted that some year-over-year comparisons look shorter than last year’s iPhone 17 Pro cycle, and GF Securities’ Jeff Pu described initial demand as “lukewarm,” citing limited spec upgrades, higher prices, and buyers who may be waiting for the Duo. Munster’s point is narrower and more sequential: the fact that waits lengthened from one day to the next still matters.

The Duo, starting at $1,999, is expected to siphon some high-end buyers who would otherwise have chosen a Pro Max. How large that substitution effect becomes will only become clear after October 16. For now, Munster’s tracker suggests the phones that are on sale are finding buyers quickly enough to push delivery dates later.
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MacDailyNews Take: Munster’s data showing lengthening wait times is meaningful. The other analysts’ looking just at YoY lead times do not have enoguh data to draw any meaningful conclusions.

You cannot measure demand based on shipping times without knowing how much supply Apple has in hand… and where and how those supplies are allocated in each geographic area. – MacDailyNews, September 17, 2024

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The post Rising iPhone 18 Pro lead times point to solid early demand – Gene Munster appeared first on MacDailyNews.

iPhone 18 Pro arrives with Apple concentrating its biggest changes in three areas: camera control, sustained performance, and battery life. The new Pro models retain familiar 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, but introduce a variable-aperture main camera, the 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, redesigned thermal hardware, and a smaller Dynamic Island.

The lineup consists of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, starting at $1,199 and $1,299 in the U.S., respectively. Both begin with 256GB of storage and are available in black, silver, glacier, and a new burgundy finish. Preorders opened September 12, with retail availability beginning September 18 in more than 65 countries and regions.

Rather than treating the Pro models as a cosmetic update, Apple has focused on changes that become more noticeable during demanding use, particularly photography, video work, gaming, AI processing, and long sessions away from a charger.

iPhone 18 Pro brings variable aperture to the main camera

The centerpiece is a new 48MP Fusion Main camera with a physical variable aperture, a first for the iPhone.

Six laser-cut aperture blades can adjust the amount of light reaching the sensor while also changing depth of field. The camera supports four aperture settings: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0.

At the wider end, the camera can gather more light in darker scenes. A narrower aperture can keep more people or background detail in focus, giving photographers another tool beyond computational depth effects and Portrait mode.

Apple also gives users direct access to those settings through new Pro controls in the Camera app. Aperture, shutter speed, and white balance can be adjusted manually, while a histogram provides a more conventional way to monitor exposure.

The feature is paired with a new main-camera sensor and updated computational imaging pipeline. Apple says the combination improves low-light performance and detail, while Photographic Styles gain texture and grain controls for additional control over an image’s appearance.

Video receives several additions as well. Cinematic effects can now be applied after recording to footage captured at up to 60 frames per second, while Time-lapse can record in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. Audio Mix has also been updated with improved voice processing and the ability to isolate music.

For photographers who want more evidence of how an image originated, Apple is introducing Apple Reference Image. In Reference mode, the main camera signs sensor data, which Private Cloud Compute uses to create an unalterable reference version that can be compared with an edited image in Photos. Apple is also preparing support for the SynthID standard as another way of identifying AI-generated or altered content.

iPhone 18 Pro uses A20 Pro and a redesigned vapor chamber

A20 Pro is built using a 2-nanometer manufacturing process and contains a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engine.

Apple says memory bandwidth is 50% higher than on A19 Pro, while GPU performance can be up to 40% faster. The Neural Engine provides 32 cores in total, doubling the AI processing capability of the previous Pro chip.

The silicon change is closely tied to a redesigned cooling system. Apple has rearranged the chip package so that the silicon die sits beside the memory rather than beneath it in the thermal path, allowing A20 Pro to connect more directly to a next-generation vapor chamber.

That vapor chamber has three times the surface area of the previous generation and uses new materials to move heat away from the processor more effectively. Apple claims the design can deliver up to a 40% gain in sustained performance compared with iPhone 17 Pro.

That distinction is more relevant than peak benchmark numbers for workloads such as extended gaming sessions, video editing, computational photography, and local AI models, where heat can force a phone to reduce performance over time.

Connectivity has also moved further toward Apple-designed silicon. The N1 wireless chip supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, while the new C2 modem succeeds C1X. Apple says C2 uses 15% less energy while offering faster uploads and adds mmWave support in the U.S.

iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches 45 hours of video playback

Battery improvements are another major part of the new hardware.

Apple rates eSIM-only versions of iPhone 18 Pro for up to 36 hours of video playback, while iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches as much as 45 hours. Apple says Pro Max receives the largest battery-life increase ever delivered in an iPhone.

Some of that gain comes from using the space previously occupied by a physical SIM tray. In markets receiving eSIM-only models, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the larger internal battery provides an additional two hours of rated video playback.

Charging has accelerated as well. iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50% charge in approximately 15 minutes using a supported wired setup, while wireless charging reaches 50% in around 30 minutes. Apple says five minutes of wired charging on iPhone 18 Pro Max can provide roughly seven hours of video playback.

Both devices use aluminum unibody construction with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back. Storage options run from 256GB through 2TB.

The iPhone 18 Pro weighs 211 grams, while iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249 grams. Display sizes remain 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively.

iOS 27 brings Siri AI and new Apple Intelligence tools

The hardware launches alongside iOS 27, which places Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI more prominently across the system.

Siri AI can use personal context from information stored across apps, respond to onscreen content, perform actions in supported apps, and handle more open-ended questions. A new Siri mode in Camera lets users ask questions and take action based on objects or information visible through the viewfinder.

Photo tools include Spatial Reframing, Extend, and an upgraded Clean Up feature, while Safari can monitor selected webpages for changes such as a product restock or price adjustment.

The Dynamic Island has also been physically reduced and redesigned. It can display up to three Live Activities simultaneously while continuing to support Face ID.

Apple released iOS 27 on September 14, while Siri AI is rolling out initially as a beta in English, with additional language support planned. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max reach stores September 18, giving Apple a Pro lineup whose most substantial additions are less about a new exterior shape and more about physical camera control, heat management, and how long the hardware can sustain demanding workloads.

The post iPhone 18 Pro adds variable aperture, A20 Pro, and longer battery life appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Esteja você de olho nos recém-anunciados iPhones 18 Pro e 18 Pro Max ou no badalado iPhone Duo, é bem provável que já tenha pensado em maneiras de economizar na hora de comprar um desses novos aparelhos. Como sempre, uma das melhores alternativas é optar por fazer isso nos Estados Unidos, com um cartão internacional da Nomad!

Parceira de longa data do MacMagazine, a Nomad está oferecendo 5% de cashback (limitado a US$100) para quem abrir uma conta até 30 de setembro com o cupom MAC26 e converter pelo menos R$3.500 (aproximadamente US$700/600€) — assim, você consegue adquirir seu iPhone novinho em folha com uma economia extra. 💵

Vamos usar como exemplo o iPhone 18 Pro de 256GB, que sai por US$1.200 nos EUA e por R$12.000 no Brasil. No momento da redação desta matéria, a cotação do dólar gira em torno de R$5,14, o que significa que, considerando encargos de 3,5% e uma taxa de serviço de 1,9%, o mais novo flagship da Maçã pode acabar saindo por ~R$6.504 — valor que cai para cerca de R$6.178 com cashback supracitado!

Vendido oficialmente por US$1.300/R$13.000, o iPhone 18 Pro Max pode acabar saindo por apenas ~R$6.693, enquanto o atual queridinho da galera, o iPhone Duo (preço tabelado de US$2.000/R$22.000), tem o potencial de lhe custar algo em torno de R$10.840!

Em outras palavras, caso você esteja planejando trocar de iPhone por agora, uma compra internacional com o cartão da Nomad torna-se uma das melhores opções — principalmente considerando que os preços no varejo nacional continuarão bem altos por um tempo.

Abra sua conta Nomad e ganhe até 5% de cashback!

Como dito, para aproveitar essa oferta, basta abrir sua conta internacional na Nomad até 30 de setembro e converter pelo menos R$3.500.

Para tal, baixe o app da Nomad e cadastre-se usando o código MAC26 no campo “Código de convidado”:

Sobre a Nomad

A Nomad foi a primeira a oferecer uma conta em dólar hospedada nos Estados Unidos, sem nenhuma taxa de abertura, anuidade ou manutenção. O cartão da empresa é aceito em mais de 180 países, oferecendo taxas bastante menores que as dos cartões de crédito internacionais.

A conta bancária da Nomad é assegurada em até US$250 mil pelo Community Federal Savings Bank, membro do fundo garantidor dos EUA (FDIC), para cada tipo de conta por titular, e permite que você faça/receba transferências de outras contas da Nomad sem nenhum custo, além de transferências para contas americanas (via Wire Transfer) e outras pagando bem menos do que as taxas cobradas nos EUA.

E não para por aí: com a sua conta Nomad você tem acesso a descontos em lojas parceiras e ainda pode aproveitar o Nomad Lounge, que concede acesso a uma das melhores salas VIP do Terminal 3 do Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos (SP).

Só na Nomad você tem uma conta internacional sem taxas mensais de manutenção, além de poder desfrutar de toda a praticidade e segurança que ela oferece!

NOTA DE TRANSPARÊNCIA: O MacMagazine recebe uma pequena comissão sobre vendas concluídas por meio de links deste post, mas você, como consumidor, não paga nada mais pelos produtos/serviços usando os nossos links de afiliado.

Find the right iPhone 18 Pro case for your style and budget, from slim covers and leather finishes to rugged protection and built-in stands.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Before you spend $1,199 on the iPhone 18 Pro, here are six reasons your current iPhone deserves another year.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

iPhone 18 Pro preorders open, with deliveries starting September 18 alongside the new Apple Watches and AirPods 5.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max pre-orders open Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. Shoppers who want a faster checkout can finish most of the work tonight.

Apple’s “Get Ready” option is live on the Shop iPhone page and in the Apple Store app. Use it to pick your iPhone 18 Pro model, add accessories, and complete financing or lease pre-approval before the morning rush of pre-orders. Apple is leaving that window open until 9pm PDT / 12am EDT tonight, Friday, September 11th. After that, you’ll still be able to order on Saturday — it will may take longer at checkout.

MacDailyNews Take: If you already know which configuration you want, do your setup now. It’s the simplest way to avoid delays when pre-orders go live. If you’re still deciding, Saturday morning remains the official start, but we highly recommend getting ready ahead of pre-orders going live.

Beloved interns, amass now and Tap That Keg! Prost, everyone!

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The post Tonight’s the cutoff: Get ready now for iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders appeared first on MacDailyNews.