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
106 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
106 months ago
This will not work, don't waste your time, honestly it's not worth it.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johncarync Avatar
106 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
106 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
106 months ago
Good I will be busy watching Stranger Things 2 while everything is crazy.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mjmar Avatar
106 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

iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
Google maps feaure

Google Maps Quietly Added This Long-Overdue Feature for Drivers

Wednesday December 10, 2025 2:52 am PST by
Google Maps on iOS quietly gained a new feature recently that automatically recognizes where you've parked your vehicle and saves the location for you. Announced on LinkedIn by Rio Akasaka, Google Maps' senior product manager, the new feature auto-detects your parked location even if you don't use the parking pin function, saves it for up to 48 hours, and then automatically removes it once...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...