Pre-orders of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple TV 4K and Apple Watch Series 3 are all set to open tonight at 12:01 a.m. Pacific.
Apple’s made a ton of improvements to the pre-order process over the years, but the past few years have taught these things can sell out quickly. Taking an extra few minutes to get your pre-order in could cause your shipment to be delayed.
Demand for the new iPhone 8 may not be as huge as in year’s past, but we’ve compiled a quick guide to help you get the iPhone you want and get back to sleep before Apple’s servers get crushed.
Here’s what to do:
Know which model you want
Photo: Apple
Big or bigger? Gold or space gray? 64GB or 256GB? Choosing between iPhones this year is no easy task. There are some big hardware differences between the two iPhone in the camera department so make sure you have your mind made up before you order.
Check your upgrade eligibility
Before you can even start thinking about buying a new iPhone you need to check if your lording carrier will permit you to upgrade without tacking on an astronomical upgrade fee. Luckily, checking your eligibility is easier than ever this year with the Apple Store app.
You can also check through your carrier. If you bought your last iPhone through an installment plan you may not be eligible for an upgrade yet, so definitely check before you try to order tonight.
Sell your old iPhone
Photo: Apple
The nice thing about Apple devices is they maintain their value much better than other smartphones, making them an easy source of cash when you’re looking to buy a new device. There are myriad ways to sell or trade in your old device. You can even sell your old device to us! Cult of Mac launched an iPhone buy back program that cuts out the middle men so you can get even more cash for your old iPhone.
Know what time pre-orders start in your location
The world’s a big place, and while iPhone 8 and 8 Plus pre-orders kick off at midnight Cupertino time, depending on where you are, that could be quite a bit later.
Make sure to double check before you set your alarms. I find the easiest way to check the time zone difference is with Wolfram Alpha. Just go over to the link and type:
When it is midnight in Cupertino, CA what time is it in [Your City, State and/or Country]Set your alarm 20 minutes early
We don’t really care what kind of alarm you use — the alarm app that comes with your iPhone, one of the many ones on the App Store, a bedside speaker dock or even a good, old fashion clanger — but whichever one you pick, make sure to set it twenty minutes before pre-orders go up.
Why? A couple of reasons. One, chances are, you’re going to have to wake up early for this, and you want to give yourself enough time to get to the computer if you’re groggy or hit the snooze button by force of habit.
Second? There have been a few times where the page went live a little early and others where it went up late. So be there early and prepare to lose some sleep.
Load up the iPhone 8 Apple.com page
Photo: Apple
Not much more to it than that. When midnight hits, this page will change to show a big ‘Buy Now’ link underneath the iPhone 8 header. That’s what you’re looking for.
