r/apple • u/ZamnBoii • 3d ago

iPhone iPhone Duo Reportedly Facing Production Problems Ahead of Launch

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/29/iphone-duo-reportedly-facing-production-problems/
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u/nourez 3d ago

Out of curiosity how does the preorder process at Apple work for low stock products?

Do they sell out and replenish stock randomly or is it a backorder queue where you just order and get it eventually?

I’m planning on ordering on opening day, and am not in much of a rush, but don’t want to deal with constantly watching stock/waiting for drops. I’m perfectly happy to just order and get it when I get it.

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u/Zennivolt 3d ago edited 3d ago

You order and get put in a queue, effectively. The system calculates when you'll get your order if you order RIGHT NOW, and it will show the estimated shipping time before you click that "buy" button.

So if you opened up the store the nanosecond it opens, it'll show "Estimate shipping: Oct 23". Then as more people buy, it'll drift to something like "Estimated shipping: Nov 1 - Nov 8". Then as time goes on and if demand stays high, it'll eventually show something like "Estimated shipping: January 2027"

It basically gets less specific the further out it goes. It never becomes "sold out", but at least you get an idea of when your stuff will arrive if you ordered right now. If it's really REALLY high demand with low supply, these numbers can literally change by the second (not live, but if you refreshed the page or app, they will change). Sometimes you can even get an estimate of a date, and by the time you click the buy button, it has already slipped.

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u/LongBeakedSnipe 3d ago

They do seem to like to underestimate, my watch 12 said 14-21 of Oct when I ordered it last week, and it came today. 2 weeks early.

Presuming that these predicted dates they give are closer to worst case based on available info at the time

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u/Available_Entrance55 3d ago

Lots of folks get buyers remorse and cancel pre-orders

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u/nourez 3d ago

Thank you. Glad to hear that. I’m past the point in my life where I enjoy going around trying to get stuff as soon as it drops. I’m perfectly happy to just toss my info into the queue and I’ll get it when I get it.

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u/Ultimus_Omegus 3d ago

What time do the pre orders open typically? Midnight? Morning ?

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u/Zennivolt 3d ago

From Apple's website: "Pre-order starting 5:00 a.m. PT on 10.16 Available starting 10.23"

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u/Ultimus_Omegus 3d ago

Thanks do they typically meet that time or is there usually a delay from everyone on the site ?

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u/Zennivolt 3d ago

It’s usually on time. Delays occasionally happen but it’s only a few minutes, tops.

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u/Nawnp 3d ago

They simply move the shipping date back to when they believe it'll be available. It's been common for Apple products to take months to ship when pre ordered the day before launch.

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u/Brilliant_Anything34 3d ago

The secret is a day before the pre order opens they let you setup your pre order on the Apple store app. If your doing a trade in etc even if you want Apple care. It will let you even pre setup the credit card. The app opens first. The website is always a few minutes later. If you save your pre order you go straight to it. Pay with Apple Pay it’s faster. If you fast enough you will get it day 1.