How To Preorder iPhone 6S: When, Where And What Time To Purchase Apple Inc.’s Latest Smartphone

Let the races begin. Early Saturday morning, preorders kick off for Apple’s latest smartphones, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.

Making an early reservation for the smartphone can be the better option for customers who don’t want to brave the lines on Sept. 25. But if you go the preorder route, preparation is essential since iPhones in the past couple of years have sold out within an hour or two. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Preorder Start Time

Preorders for the iPhone 6S begin promptly at 12:01 a.m. PDT/3:01 a.m. EDT. That means customers in the U.S. will need to either stay up late or take a quick nap before rushing to their computers to order Apple’s latest smartphones.

Where You Can Preorder

There are several places to grab a reservation for the iPhone 6S once preorders kick off Saturday morning. The first place to look will be Apple’s website and major wireless carrier websites such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. Alternatively, Best Buy is also taking preorders at the same time, followed by in-store reservations at normal retail hours. Target is also participating in preorders both online and in-store, with iPhone 6S prices starting at $199. Each retailer and carrier is offering its own incentives at launch as well, so if you’re looking for extra savings, be sure to check out the individual websites.

Checklist

During the preorder process, Apple asks shoppers for some information about their wireless account. This typically includes the customer’s cell phone number, ZIP/postal code and last four digits of the wireless account holder’s Social Security number. Those shopping through their carrier’s website should also have the login information of the primary account holder. This is especially important for AT&T customers who want two-year contracts, because subsidized iPhone 6S prices on AT&T are available only when purchasing the phone directly from the carrier and not from Apple.

May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

To put it nicely, the online preorder process has historically been anything but perfect. In the past two years, Apple’s website has gone down almost immediately from the onslaught of customers trying to place an order. So having one, two or even three backup ordering options can mean the difference between getting a launch day iPhone shipped to your home or camping out in line.

One way to go about this is to have a computer open to Apple’s website and an iPhone or iPad with the Apple Store app installed. So if one method isn’t working, you’ll at least have another preordering option to work with.

Have A Second Choice Ready

Another thing to keep in mind is that your preferred color or storage option may quickly sell out, as was the case with the iPhone 5S launch in 2013. Have an alternate choice ready so you’re not losing precious minutes deciding on what color iPhone 6S to go with.

Following preorders, the iPhone 6S will launch on Sept. 25 through retail and carrier stores in several countries and markets, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S. The iPhone 6S starts at $199 on a two-year contract and the 6S Plus starts at $299. Off-contract prices start at $649 for the iPhone 6S and $749 for the iPhone 6S Plus.