Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Sep 14

Apple Pushes iPhone 18 Pro Max Deliveries to Oct. 13 as $1,199 Models Sell Through

Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Sep 14

Apple Pushes iPhone 18 Pro Max Deliveries to Oct. 13 as $1,199 Models Sell Through

Q: Why is Apple reportedly ditching its signature Face ID for the most expensive, highly anticipated iPhone launch in history?

Apple is reportedly dropping Face ID on its foldable iPhone because the device is designed to be extremely thin, leaving too little internal space for the TrueDepth hardware that Face ID requires. Multiple reports cited in the rumor cycle say Apple’s first foldable is targeting an unfolded thickness of roughly 4.5 to 4.8 millimeters. Face ID is not just a software feature; it depends on a multi-part sensor array, including infrared and depth-mapping components, that takes up more room than a standard front camera. In a book-style foldable, that space problem is harder because Apple would likely need the system to work in both folded and unfolded use cases, adding further design complexity. The reported replacement is Touch ID built into the side or power button, an approach Apple already uses on several iPads. That solution is more compact, works whether the phone is open or closed, and helps Apple preserve the slim profile that appears to be one of the device’s main selling points. So the move looks less like Apple abandoning Face ID on principle and more like a hardware trade-off. Reports also suggest the foldable already involves other compromises tied to its thin, premium design, including a dual-camera setup without a telephoto lens and possibly fewer external hardware features than top conventional iPhones. Apple has not confirmed any of this yet, so the explanation remains based on consistent pre-launch reporting rather than official specifications.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Sep 14

New U.S. orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max now show delivery windows from Sept. 29 to as late as Oct. 13, missing the Sept. 18 launch-day arrival promised to earliest buyers.
Apple's online store listed every Pro color and storage option slipping: iPhone 18 Pro estimates moved to Sept. 29-Oct. 6, while all Pro Max configurations stretched to Oct. 6-Oct. 13.
Sept. 18 availability has not vanished entirely—Apple Store pickup may still be possible for some configurations, and carriers or resellers such as Best Buy may still have launch-day stock.
Inventory is expected to tighten further over the next few days, extending the early demand surge around Apple's premium lineup ahead of the iPhone Duo pre-orders on Oct. 16.