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iPhone X pre-order: three top tips to avoid disappointment

iPhone X has been much-hyped since its big reveal back in September, with the release date (Nov 3) almost upon us now. With stocks low and demand expected to be high, there are sure to be lots of disappointed customers when pre-orders open later this week. Here’s how to maximize your chances of nabbing an iPhone X as early as possible.

Know when the window opens

Customers tend to flock to make purchases the second the pre-order window opens, but luckily we know when these products will be available down to the minute – so plan accordingly.

Pre-orders go live simultaneously all over the globe in the early hours of Friday 27 October: specifically, 12.01 am PT / 3.01 am ET / 8.01 am GMT.  So to stand the best chance of getting something before all the initial stock is snapped up, Americans will need to stay up late while Europeans will need to get up early. Set an alarm so you don’t forget.

In past years it’s only taken a few minutes before shipping estimates start to slip back further and further from the “proper” release date, and we’d expect that effect to be magnified for iPhone X. Every second counts!

Decide exactly what you want

You want to be able to get through the checkout process as quickly as possible – so make sure you’ve decided exactly what it is you want. That means choosing ahead of time which storage capacity, color, and carrier you’ll be selecting. Luckily the choices are relatively limited: iPhone X comes in two flavors, silver and space gray, each available with either 64GB or 256GB of storage space.

If you’re dead set on getting one as soon as possible, be prepared to change your mind at the last second. Some models are more popular than others and some of the shipping estimates will start slipping sooner than others.

So if you originally pick a 256GB space gray model and it says it’s not available until December, take a look at a 64GB silver version instead and you might just be able to get it sooner. Analysts expect demand to outweigh supply until 2018, so you may have to compromise to stay ahead of the crowd.

Use the App Store app

Pre-orders can be made via apple.com on a desktop computer, but by far the slickest checkout process is via the official Apple Store app. It’s a free download – so grab it now, log in and make sure your payment and shipping details are up-to-date.

Those enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program need additional credit checks before they can make a purchase. If you’re in that camp you can register now to get pre-approved for credit before the pre-order window opens. That means you’ll be able to whiz through the purchase process alongside everyone else on Friday without a hitch.

If you’re reading this later than Friday 27, you’ll almost certainly be out of luck for the release date. But it’s still worth pre-ordering to get an iPhone X as soon as possible – the App Store app will let you know estimated shipping times before you confirm any purchase.