iPhone X pre-orders begin this Friday, October 27 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on a first come, first served basis, and customers that want any chance of receiving the smartphone on launch day will need a combination of speed and luck.

iphone x quad
The quickest way to pre-order the iPhone X is to use the Apple Store app on iPhone. Prospective buyers that want any chance of receiving the iPhone X when it launches Friday, November 3 should follow the steps below to be ready.

Note that these steps are for customers paying full price for the iPhone X upfront, and may not apply to those who owe money towards a previously carrier financed device.

apple store app

Before Pre-Orders Begin

Add the iPhone X to Your Favorites

  1. Download the Apple Store app from the App Store on your iPhone.

  2. Open the Apple Store app and tap on the iPhone X banner in the main Discover tab.

  3. Tap the iPhone X with 5.8-inch display box.

  4. Choose the color: Silver or Space Gray.

  5. Choose the capacity: 64GB or 256GB.

  6. Tap the heart icon in the top-right corner to add the iPhone X you configured to your Favorites for quick access.

iphone x pre order summary

Use Apple Pay and Ensure Credit Card and Billing Info Are Up to Date

If you don't have Apple Pay set up, tap "Add Credit or Debit Card" or the blue "+" button in the top-right corner and follow the on-screen steps.

  1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap on the credit or debit card that you will use to pay for the iPhone X. Make sure it is still a valid and functioning card.

    wallet app card

  3. Scroll down and ensure the billing address is accurate. If not, tap on the address and edit it or enter a new one.

    wallet billing iphone 1

  4. Open the Apple Store app.

  5. Select any product and tap the blue Add to Bag button at the bottom.

  6. Tap on the Bag tab.

  7. Tap on the black Buy with Apple Pay button at the bottom. You won't actually have to purchase the item.

  8. Tap on the black Apple Pay button at the bottom again.

  9. A prompt for Touch ID will open. Ensure your shipping address, phone number, and email address appear correctly ahead of time.

When iPhone X Pre-Orders Begin

  1. Open the Apple Store app.

  2. Tap on the Account tab at the bottom.

  3. Tap on the iPhone X you saved under My Favorites.

    iphone x fav tab

  4. Tap on the blue Add to Bag button at the bottom.

  5. Tap on the Bag tab.

  6. Tap on the black Buy with Apple Pay button at the bottom.

    buy with apple pay

  7. Tap on the black Apple Pay button at the bottom again.

  8. Hold your thumb enrolled in Touch ID over the Home button to authenticate and complete the purchase.

Tips and Tricks

  • Set an alarm for at least 15 minutes before 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time to ensure you are awake for pre-orders. Make sure that you wake up at the correct time by using Google or a Time Zone Converter.
  • Ensure the iPhone X configuration you add to your Favorites is the color and storage capacity you absolutely want.
  • Practice by adding any available product to your Favorites and proceeding with the checkout process until the final step before payment. Every second counts towards your chances of getting an iPhone X on launch day.
  • If you have multiple iPhones and iPads, have backup devices ready with the Apple Store app open in case something goes wrong. You can also have Apple.com open in a desktop browser as another alternative.
  • If the Add to Bag button can't be tapped, double tap the Home button and swipe up on the Apple Store app to force close it and then reopen it. Rinse and repeat until the moment iPhone X pre-orders go live.
  • If you are participating in the iPhone Upgrade Program, make sure to complete the pre-approval process in the Apple Store app so that you can speed through checkout when pre-orders begin.
  • You can still pay with a credit card without Apple Pay by tapping on the "buy with other payment options" button during checkout, but doing so could take longer. We recommend using Apple Pay if it is available to you.

Final Words

iPhone X pre-orders will likely sell out in a matter of minutes, at which point shipping estimates will be pushed back by several weeks or months, so it's important to complete the pre-order process as quickly as possible.

Once you place your pre-order, Apple will send you an email with an order number and other information. The order will be processed, prepared for shipment, and eventually delivered to the address you provided on launch day or later.

If you aren't quick enough or forget to pre-order, Apple said the iPhone X will be available for walk-in customers at its retail stores, carrier stores, and select authorized resellers like Best Buy on November 3, but supplies will likely be very tight.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

johnyslats Avatar
97 months ago
Oh MacRumors, why did you have to go and tell the uninformed. If people really wanted an X they should have uncovered this themselves beforehand :(
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
daveak Avatar
97 months ago
This will not work, don't waste your time, honestly it's not worth it.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johncarync Avatar
97 months ago
Use the Apple Store app, save your config as a favorite, pay with ApplePay...dammit, MacRumors, you're giving away all my secrets!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Braderunner Avatar
97 months ago
Actually, the whole process goes much quicker and smoother if you wait about 30 minutes after it goes on sale! :rolleyes:;)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
max2 Avatar
97 months ago
Good I will be busy watching Stranger Things 2 while everything is crazy.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mjmar Avatar
97 months ago
It's funny - the best way to order a new iPhone is on your current iPhone that is functioning just fine.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...