Short wait times for preorders of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have prompted analysis that early demand may be weaker than in previous years.

According to IT outlet 9to5Mac on Sept. 15, tipster Jeff Pu (제프 푸) said demand for the iPhone 18 Pro looks tepid based on current order flows.

Pu said most iPhone 18 Pro configurations are available for immediate delivery without shipping delays. Wait times for the iPhone 18 Pro Max varied by model, but even the most popular configuration with the longest wait was only 3 to 4 weeks.

For the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the silver 1TB and 2TB models were available for immediate delivery. The black and glacier 1TB models showed waits of 1 to 2 weeks, while the burgundy 1TB model took 3 to 4 weeks. Most colours of the 256GB and 512GB models also had wait times of 3 to 4 weeks. This is seen as a reason the iPhone 18 Pro appears less popular than previous models.

Still, there are limits to gauging actual sales based only on preorder wait times. Wait times do not reflect demand alone, but also show the gap between supply and demand. Market research firms and analysts use expected delivery dates as a supplementary indicator, but do not draw firm conclusions on sales from that alone.

This time, the iPhone Duo is cited as a variable. Because iPhone Duo preorders have not started, some people who planned to buy the iPhone 18 Pro may be waiting for the iPhone Duo. That means tepid demand for the iPhone 18 Pro could signal higher-than-expected demand for the iPhone Duo.

Interpretation could become more complicated once the iPhone Duo reaches the market. The iPhone Duo has been reported to have relatively low production yields. In that situation, delivery wait times could lengthen even if demand is not very large.

As a result, it is hard to judge whether the iPhone 18 Pro will be a hit based only on the delivery schedules seen so far. Many iPhone 18 Pro units are available for immediate delivery, and the Pro Max has waits of at most 3 to 4 weeks. But iPhone Duo preorders have not begun, and supply conditions differ by product, making it too early to conclude demand from early wait times alone.

The key point is that this assessment is an early observation based on delivery wait times, not sales. Even with the same indicator, its meaning can change depending on supply conditions and pent-up demand for other products, so actual demand for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo is expected to become clearer only after preorders for both are open.