If you're anything like me, you've probably already started looking at your current phone with a bit of suspicion. Is the battery dying faster? Is that shutter lag getting worse? Or maybe you just saw a blurry leak of the new "Air" model and suddenly your iPhone 15 feels like a brick. It happens every single year. We all know the drill: Apple drops a teaser, the internet loses its collective mind, and then the frantic race to hit the "buy" button begins.
But if you want to know when is iphone 17 pre order, you don't actually need a crystal ball. You just need to look at how Apple operates. They are creatures of habit. They love a specific cadence.
The Magic Friday: Pinning Down the Date
Honestly, Apple's schedule is more predictable than my morning coffee run. Historically, they host their big keynote on a Tuesday or Wednesday in early September. Then, without fail, pre-orders go live that same Friday.
For the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025, the stars are aligning for a very specific window.
Most reliable industry insiders, including the folks at MacRumors and analysts like Mark Gurman, are circling Tuesday, September 9, 2025, as the likely event date. If that holds true—and it almost always does—the answer to when the iPhone 17 pre order starts is Friday, September 12, 2025.
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You'll want to set an alarm for 5:00 a.m. PDT (8:00 a.m. EDT). That's when the Apple Store app usually "goes down" for a few hours before reopening with the new shiny stuff. If you wait until you finish your morning cereal, you're basically asking for a "shipping in 4-6 weeks" notification.
What Are We Actually Pre-Ordering?
This year is weird. It’s not just the standard "bigger and faster" update we’re used to. Rumors suggest we're losing the "Plus" model entirely.
Instead, we're likely looking at:
- iPhone 17: The base model, potentially jumping to a 6.3-inch screen.
- iPhone 17 Air (or Slim): This is the wildcard. Rumored to be impossibly thin—think 5.something mm—and it might actually cost more than the Pro.
- iPhone 17 Pro: The workhorse with the new A19 chip.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: The "I want everything" choice with the biggest battery.
The "Air" model is what has everyone talking. Imagine a phone that feels more like a piece of glass than a device. It sounds cool, but there’s a catch: some leakers say it might only have one rear camera to keep that slim profile. Would you trade your zoom lens for a thinner pocket feel? I’m still on the fence about that one.
The 120Hz Rumor That Actually Matters
For years, Apple kept the "ProMotion" 120Hz refresh rate locked behind the Pro paywall. It was frustrating. If you bought a regular iPhone 15, you were stuck with a 60Hz screen that felt "choppy" compared to the expensive ones.
The word on the street is that for the iPhone 17 series, every single model is getting 120Hz.
This changes the math for a lot of people. If the base iPhone 17 has the smooth scrolling of a Pro, why spend the extra $300? Well, Apple knows this, which is why they’re probably stuffing the Pro models with 12GB of RAM to handle all the new "Apple Intelligence" AI features.
Pricing: Will It Hurt?
Apple hasn't raised the base price of the standard iPhone in the US for a long time. It’s been $799 forever.
- iPhone 17: Likely $799.
- iPhone 17 Air: This is the wildcard. Some say $1,299 because of the "luxury" thin design.
- iPhone 17 Pro: Probably $1,099.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: $1,199 (but maybe higher if they bump the base storage).
Keep in mind that these are "starting at" prices. Once you add more storage—because let’s be real, 128GB is a joke in 2026—you’re looking at a much higher bill.
How to Win the Pre-Order Game
If you've ever tried to buy a new iPhone the minute it drops, you know it's a bloodbath. The site lags. Your credit card gets declined for "suspicious activity" because you’re buying a $1,200 phone at 5:01 a.m.
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Here is the pro move: The Pre-Approval.
A few days before the Friday pre-order, Apple usually opens up a "get ready" window in the Apple Store app. You can pick your model, your color, and your trade-in. You even get your financing approved. Then, on Friday morning, you literally just tap one button. It’s the difference between getting your phone on launch day (September 19) and waiting until October.
Why You Might Actually Want to Wait
Look, I love new tech. But there is a very real argument for not pre-ordering the iPhone 17 the second it comes out.
First, the "Air" model is a first-generation design. Remember the first ultra-thin MacBook Air? It had overheating issues and one port. Apple usually perfects these radical designs by the second or third version. If you’re a power user, that super-slim chassis might not have the thermal headroom to keep the A19 chip running at full speed during a long gaming session or 4K video edit.
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Second, the trade-in deals often get better about a month after launch. Carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile get desperate to hit their quarterly numbers and might offer "iPhone on us" deals that aren't available on day one.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are dead-set on being the first to own the 17, here is your checklist:
- Check your current trade-in value now. Apple’s values drop the moment the new phone is announced.
- Clear some space on your iCloud. You'll want a fresh backup before you switch devices.
- Download the Apple Store App. Don't use a web browser; the app is always more stable during the pre-order rush.
- Mark September 12, 2025, on your calendar as the tentative pre-order date.
Ultimately, the iPhone 17 looks like the biggest design shift we’ve seen since the iPhone X. Whether you want the ultra-thin Air or the powerhouse Pro Max, being prepared for that Friday morning window is the only way to avoid the dreaded "Out of Stock" screen.