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iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black Now Widely Available at U.S. Apple Stores

Friday October 14, 2016 11:58 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Since launching nearly one month ago, the iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black has been challenging to find at Apple Stores in the United States -- until today, that is. A spot check of iStockNow reveals the popular model is now at least temporarily available at a number of Apple's retail locations nationwide.

istocknow-oct-14
Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus stock as of October 14 at 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time

Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus models are currently in stock at a number of Apple Stores in several states, including major cities such as Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco, at the time of publication. Availability varies based on carrier, color, and storage capacity.

iStockNow uses Google Maps to visualize the real-time status of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus availability at Apple Stores in the United States and other countries, likely based on Apple's reservation system backend. Nevertheless, placing an online reservation or calling your local store ahead of time is highly recommended.

Apple Stores with Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus availability will display a green marker upon setting search filters for that model. Clicking on an individual marker opens a window with an expanded model-by-model breakdown of availability, and the time that stock was last updated at that location.

jet-black-philadelphia
Jet Black iPhones have faced a global shortage as the new high-gloss finish has proven challenging to manufacture. The models suffer from a low casing production yield rate of 60-70%, meaning that 30-40% of units do not pass Apple's quality standards and must be reworked, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple says the high-gloss Jet Black finish is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process.

When pre-orders began on September 9, shipping estimates for Jet Black models quickly slipped to November, but some iPhone 7 Plus models in the new color shipped sooner than expected. Apple's current shipping estimate for Jet Black models is 6-8 weeks for both carrier-locked and newly released SIM-free models.

While in-store stock is available in the U.S. at the time this article was published, supplies will likely be depleted very quickly.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: Apple retail
[ 128 comments ]


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citysnaps
37 months ago

Was it another planned shortage? Only common sense will tell us.


No, evidence and links will, if you believe that it's happening. Common sense will tell most that's a stupid belief. The other's, well, keep on making stuff up...
Rating: 9 Votes
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lcseds
37 months ago
It's been over a month and there are so few plus units to be found. But this is the new Apple. Start preorders with little to no inventory and then make your loyal customer wait 6-8 weeks. Same thing when I purchased my 6 Plus. About 7 weeks or so before I got it. They must enjoy doing this or something. I have such a hard time believing Captain Logistics (Tim) can't get product out in a timely fashion. If Jet Black is hard to manufacture, okay. Where is the rest of the 7 plus line? It really is a joke, but the joke is on the customers. In theory, people may be halfway to a iphone refresh before getting one.
Rating: 7 Votes
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ysr
37 months ago
and yet no new macs
Rating: 7 Votes
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cicalinarrot
37 months ago
Was it another planned shortage? Only common sense will tell us.
Rating: 6 Votes
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andrewpturko
37 months ago
Waiting for the November preorders to chime in in 3,2....
Rating: 4 Votes
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littyboy
37 months ago

I wanted to exchange my matte black 7 plus for the jet black, but it's been 3 weeks since I bought it. Would they make an exception if there were supply restraints?


Lol no.
Rating: 3 Votes
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djphat2000
37 months ago
Got mine about 3 weeks earlier than they stated at time of order. :) Looks great, even thought it went straight into a case!
Rating: 3 Votes
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dampfnudel
37 months ago

A cousin showed me their black iPhone, already scratched like no one's business. Many videos I've seen online are the same. Total poor durability.


I don't think we'll be seeing next year's iPhone 8 in jet black.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Haxley
37 months ago
Awesome. I had already ordered an iPhone 7 Plus Jet Black 256gb on September 19th with estimated shipping in November. I woke up this morning, like many mornings and checked iStockNow. Nothing, as usual. Went to work, checked the MacRumors feed on Apple News around lunch time and noticed this article. Checked iStockNow and the 256 Jet Black Plus was in stock, for my carrier, at 1/4 nearby stores. Drove 45 minutes to a mall after work, checked iStockNow again when I walked in the mall; still in stock, yes! Walked into a packed, next gen Apple Store and reserved the very last 256 Jet Black Plus for my carrier. I literally saw only "1" in stock when he selected it on an iPad. Told me I got the last one, come back in 20 minutes. I walked outside of the store, checked iStockNow and there were no more available. I couldn't believe how accurate the site was. Anyway, cancelled my 9/19 order and am restoring the new phone from backup now. Cheers and thanks MacRumors!
Rating: 3 Votes
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ghostface147
37 months ago
I just can't do it. Just way to much of a fingerprint magnet. I run my phones bareback....mostly.
Rating: 3 Votes

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