Would it be faster to buy iPhone 17/ iPhone 17 Pro in person than deliver?

srisht wrote:

With the new iPhone line being released this Friday I've tried to pre-order one but realised it would take until early-mid October to buy it. How likely is it I'd be able to get the phone in person the weekend of/ the weekend after the release day if I bought it straight from the apple store?

Apple on launch day, SOMETIMES, has some stock available in very limited numbers, which people without a confirmed reservation will line up hours before their Apple Store opens with hopes they may be able to get one. For the first several weeks after a new iPhone release, most stores simply won't have any or at least may have very limited stock available. Apple is responsible to ensure the people who take the time to preorder get their phone first. The bottom line is, you can go to your Apple Store daily and hope you may be able to buy one, or you preorder and KNOW you'll get one and within what timeframe you'll get it.

You can always check the apple.com website and if you put your desired configurations, it will tell you at the bottom if shipping or the pickup in store will be faster. I just tried it and it said it’s unavailable in apple stores near me. The earliest shipping is early October. I think there’s a lot of other people waiting to get it in stores, so the stock will run out fast. I think the best option is to get it online now rather than being delayed since apple stores have no stock during the release. It really depends if you can beat the crowds, if you can get it in the store. If you want a definitive arrive date, get it online.

Good luck, and I hope this helped!

tmdag wrote:

Last time, I have pre-ordered iPhone on the release date, to be delivered. Earliest delivery was 3-4weeks, while same phones were available to buy from the store next day.

so I wouldn’t trust the statement “Apple is responsible to ensure the people who take the time to preorder get their phone first”, as it was simply not the case.

No one, including me, said it was not possible to buy one in store. What we (at least me) said was that inventory will be VERY low for several weeks as Apple works hard to fulfill orders people placed. If you want to go camp out at your Apple Store early in the morning, you may be able to get one. But you just as well, may not. Otherwise, you order the phone you want and know when you'll get it. You get EXACTLY the phone you want, from model, to color, to storage level. Maybe if you knew you wanted a new iPhone, you should have done what millions of people did and that was be at your computer at 8:00 AM (Eastern) the moment Perorders were being accepted and you'd likely already have the phone you wanted, like I did. Our new phones were delivered on Friday.

Last time, I have pre-ordered iPhone on the release date, to be delivered. Earliest delivery was 3-4weeks, while same phones were available to buy from the store next day.

so I wouldn’t trust the statement “Apple is responsible to ensure the people who take the time to preorder get their phone first”, as it was simply not the case.

You're probably out of luck until October. You can order for delivery on in store pickup. If it's not listed as available sooner for in-store pickup when you try to order, you're not likely to get one by just showing up at the store this weekend.

If your able to beat the rush crowds then you will get it day of the product being made buyable. If you buy online you will have to wait some time for the product to get delivered. I recommend you buying in store.

We are fellow Apple users — not unlike yourself — with no insight on Apple’s plans re: on-hand / in-store inventory.

Your best avenue is to contact your selected store(s) directly.