Set your alarm because iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus preorders start at 12:01AM pacific time Friday morning—which means Thursday night is going to run really late for a lot of people. You can place your preorder on Apple’s website, in the Apple Store app, or through your cell service provider.
Apple said preorders start at midnight on September 8th, which means early Friday morning, not late Friday night. It’s surprising how many people get tripped up by midnight, and missing out on getting a first-day iPhone or Apple Watch makes for a bad start to the weekend.
Apple Website
Apple’s preorder website is ready to go, and while you can’t place an order yet you can get started by entering your service provider information. The site also lists all the available iPhone models and specifications to help you decide which is right for you.
If you’re on Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program you can place your order here, too. You’ll trade in your current iPhone when you upgrade, so make sure it’s in good shape—that goes for the carrier’s trade in programs, too. The monthly cost for an iPhone on Apple’s program starts at about $32 a month.
Apple Store App
The Apple Store app on the iPhone and iPad often times is the most reliable way to get your early preorder processed. You can pick the model you want, just like on the Apple website, but you can also tag what you want ahead of time as a favorite to save time when checking out tonight.
AT&T
You can preorder an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus at AT&T’s website, and current customers can also use the myAT&T app on their iPhone. AT&T is pushing its Next plans, which work a lot like Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program.
If you want to get the latest iPhone every year, go with the AT&T Next Every Year plan. That plan lets you pay off the cost of your iPhone over 24 months, or you can upgrade to a new model after 12. Pricing starts at about $27 a month.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s preorder site is open for “pre-registration” right now, which means you can get an email when preorders start at 12:01AM Friday morning. The company is offering an upgrade deal where you get a 32GB iPhone 7 for free when you trade in your iPhone 6 or newer. The 32GB iPhone 7 Plus will set you back $120 with a trade in.
The catch is that you need to stick with T-Mobile for 24 months. If you leave early, you pay off the balance of the phone’s cost.
Sprint
Sprint’s preorder site is hyping its iPhone Forever program where you get a 32GB iPhone 7 starting at about $15 a month when you trade in your old iPhone. After 22 months you can trade in your current iPhone for the latest model for free, or pay off your iPhone 7 and switch to a month-to-month contract.
Verizon
Like AT&T and T-Mobile, Verizon is offering a 24 month payment plan on its website. If that’s not your style, Verizon still offers a two-year contract option starting at $199 for a 32GB iPhone 7.
Hi Jeff.. I met you at Macstock this year…
How and when do folks already on the Apple upgrade program with their current phone get to order theirs? What is the process? Am I staying up? Although Apple praised the upgrade program during the keynote, they have given us no information about when and how to do it.
@jencius
How and when do folks already on the Apple upgrade program with their current phone get to order theirs? What is the process? Am I staying up? Although Apple praised the upgrade program during the keynote, they have given us no information about when and how to do it.