IPhone 18 pro max shortage UNACCEPTABLE

Question

Level 1

4 points

IPhone 18 pro max shortage UNACCEPTABLE

Hi Apple,

I wanted to get in touch directly because I’m genuinely disappointed with the way the iPhone 18 Pro Max launch and availability has been handled this year.

I’ve been an Apple customer for years since the first iPhone and have invested heavily in the Apple ecosystem. Last year I had an iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB in Cosmic Orange, which was arguably one of the most popular configurations, and despite only pre-ordering a few days before launch I was able to receive my phone on launch day.

This year I’ve done exactly what Apple encourages customers to do and pre-ordered the iPhone 18 Pro Max well before launch. Yet I’m now facing a potential wait of up to four weeks. And this isn’t just my individual situation — there appear to be significant shortages of Pro Max devices across the UK, with customers waiting weeks for different colours and storage capacities, including higher-capacity models.

I completely understand that demand can be difficult to predict and that there are supply-chain issues affecting the technology industry. However, Apple has already acknowledged that it is experiencing supply constraints and that demand has been stronger than expected.

What I don’t understand is why Apple opened pre-orders for a product with a specific launch date when there apparently weren’t anywhere near enough devices available to satisfy the demand.

To me, that makes the purpose of pre-ordering almost pointless. The whole reason I pre-order an iPhone is to secure it for launch day. If customers can pre-order weeks before launch but still potentially receive their phones several weeks after launch, what exactly is the pre-order securing?

I’m also disappointed that Apple hasn’t been more transparent with customers about the scale of the problem. I appreciate that individual orders placed through network providers aren’t Apple’s direct responsibility, but these are still Apple products and the underlying shortage is ultimately an Apple supply issue. I ordered 2 iPhone 18 pro maxes 512gb in burgundy (upgrading my storage to invest further into Apple). Due to your constraints on products and failings made by my provider I’m not seeking to leave my provider and I am still left without the two devices I was so looking forward to receiving on launch day.

I’d like to understand what Apple is actually doing to address this. Why has production been so constrained this year compared with previous launches, why was demand apparently underestimated to this extent, and when does Apple expect Pro Max availability to return to normal?

I’m not contacting you because I expect Apple to resolve my individual network-provider order. I’m contacting you because, as an Apple customer, I’m unhappy with the overall way this launch has been handled and I think Apple should hear that directly from its customers.

I’ve been loyal to Apple for years, but honestly, this experience has made me seriously consider moving to Samsung s26 ultra and leaving the Apple ecosystem altogether. That’s not something I would have expected to be considering after many many years as an Apple customer, but the way this launch has been handled has been extremely disappointing.

I’d appreciate it if this feedback could be passed to the relevant team within Apple rather than simply being treated as an individual delivery complaint.

Thanks.

Posted on Sep 28, 2026 8:53 AM

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Answer 1

steve626

Level 6

19,809 points

Sep 28, 2026 9:55 AM in response to Ake95

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

The above link is for providing feedback to Apple. This Apple Discussions forum is for users helping other users with technical issues. For instance, "I lost my home screen wallpaper when I upgraded the iOS." Other users bring their technical experience in to help other users who are facing some problem with their Apple device.

Several days ago I drove by our neighborhood Apple Store and there was a line around the block of people waiting to get in. They had guards to manage the line and since the store was full to capacity, people were only allowed in when others left. I'm sure they were all there for the new iPhones.

It will all pass in a few weeks and things will return to normal, at least what is "normal" today with disruptions in shipping and supply chains. Since you have working devices now, this should be no more than a minor inconvenience.

"I’ve been loyal to Apple for years, but honestly, this experience has made me seriously consider moving to Samsung s26 ultra and leaving the Apple ecosystem altogether. That’s not something I would have expected to be considering after many many years as an Apple customer, but the way this launch has been handled has been extremely disappointing."

Well, that's rather dramatic, but if a Samsung meets your long term needs better, you should vote with your pocketbook. If you were Apple, how would you have handled this? Should Apple moved you up in line ahead of others who had ordered like you did? There were indeed new devices available on the launch date, but the orders are being fulfilled in the order received and the demand exceeded the supply at the beginning.

Interestingly, I see this on the web site of a local retailer, located a few miles from that Apple Store. They will ship it and it would arrive Oct. 1, not too bad, several days from now.

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Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

106,930 points

Sep 28, 2026 8:56 AM in response to Ake95

This is not the Apple Complaints Department and none of the volunteers here have the ability to pass anything on to Apple marketing or sales. Sorry.

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Answer 3

Sep 28, 2026 12:15 PM in response to Ake95

“I’m not contacting you because I expect Apple to resolve my individual network-provider order. I’m contacting you because, as an Apple customer, I’m unhappy with the overall way this launch has been handled and I think Apple should hear that directly from its customers.”

Hi, am I reading this correctly? You ordered your device through your cellular network provider and your provider is unable to fulfill the pre-order. Is that correct? If so, this sounds like an issue best resolved through your provider. If your provider didn’t order enough product to meet their customer’s demand, how is that Apple’s fault?

I faced a similar situation with AT&T when the original Apple Watch Ultra launched. My preorder got screwed up. Dates for delivery showed 8 to 10 weeks. I called customer retention and calmly explained my experience with the preorder process. I had an Ultra in about 5 days.

In my experience, this is not an Apple issue or one they can solve. Your provider needs to better anticipate and prepare for iPhone launches.

Apple and Apple Support do not participate in the communities here. They only moderate our posts to insure all user guidelines are followed in regard to content and user behavior. Your comments will not be reviewed by Apple. Apple will make changes based partially on the feedback they receive through their official channel, linked below .

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 4

Sep 28, 2026 9:49 AM in response to Ake95

As a shareholder, this is all great news. Certainly the more devices being sold are beneficial and limited when supply is not there, but demand being greater than expected is something a company would not be complaining about. The only thing worse would be a large surplus of inventory and no one who is buying them.

If you want to pick up a s26 Ultra simply because they are readily available, then certainly that is something you should do. You are also talking about a device that was released in March, not something released this month.

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Answer 5

Sep 28, 2026 10:30 AM in response to Ake95

Every year, there is a backlog on orders for some models, colors and configurations of iPhones. I'm not sure why you're surprised. Sometimes one can predict which ones those will be, sometimes not. That's why it behooves you to have your preorder ready to go and submit it the instant the preorder opens. And honestly, you've lived without that device so far. You can manage a bit longer.

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