From The Verge · Brad Bourque · · 1m 40s
Preordering the iPhone 18 Pro: what it costs
Apple's new Pro phones ship September 18th, and the price gap between paying Apple and switching carriers is big.
In brief
Apple's new Pro phones ship September 18th, and the price gap between paying Apple and switching carriers is big. Unlocked means buying straight from Apple. Every "free" carrier phone is bill credits that lock you in for up to three years. Originally reported by The Verge.
The new Pros are here
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max at its September 2026 "Sunrise and shine" event, alongside the iPhone Duo. Preorders are open now.
Faster chip, better camera
Both phones run the A20 Pro, with more GPU power and more neural cores for AI work. The camera gets real improvements too.
September 18th delivery
The phones arrive Friday, September 18th. Preordering is how you lock in the exact color and storage you want before stock thins out.
“preordering one is never a bad idea if you want to ensure you get the color and storage capacity configuration you're seeking”
What it actually costs
The 6.3-inch Pro runs $1,199 for 256GB up to $2,399 at 2TB. The 6.9-inch Pro Max starts at $1,299 and tops out at $2,499. Four colors: deep black, silver, glacier, burgundy.
Unlocked means Apple only
At publication, Apple is the only place selling unlocked units. You can finance over 36 months at zero percent, join Apple Upgrade, or trade in for up to $885.
Best Buy and Walmart are carrier-locked
Both retailers listed only carrier-tied models at launch. Best Buy has Verizon and AT&T; Walmart adds T-Mobile to those two.
The free phone has strings
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all cover a Pro, but only through bill credits spread over 36 months on their pricier plans. Leave early and you eat the balance.
“you'll need to stick with the carrier for three years to get the full value”
The one thing
Unlocked means buying straight from Apple. Every "free" carrier phone is bill credits that lock you in for up to three years.
