Apple may move iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders because of 9/11

Apple may wait an extra day to open iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders following its 9 September presentation, avoiding the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the US. Orders will reportedly begin on Saturday, 12 September, although Apple is yet to confirm the change.

The company has officially scheduled its «Surprise and Shine» presentation for 10am Pacific Time on Wednesday, 9 September. It is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and its first foldable smartphone.

A source described as reliable told German technology publication Macwelt that Apple will instead begin taking orders on Saturday.

Apple would normally open pre-orders on the Friday immediately after an iPhone presentation. This year, that date is 11 September, which is the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Read more: 9/11 mastermind to face trial 27 years after 2001 attack

Apple has changed its timetable before

The reported delay would be only 24 hours, but it would represent a rare break from Apple’s tightly controlled launch routine.

The company made a similar decision in 2015. After presenting the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus on Wednesday 9 September, Apple opened pre-orders on Saturday 12 September rather than Friday 11 September.

Macwelt reports that this year’s orders could open at midnight Pacific time. That would be 8am in London, 9am in Central Europe and noon in Tashkent.

The expected retail release remains Friday 18 September. Moving pre-orders by one day would therefore not necessarily delay deliveries or the arrival of the phones in Apple stores.

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