iPhone Duo: 10 Things to Do Before You Pre-Order

Quick summary: Pre-orders open within about 17 hours of this video, and you’re about to spend a lot of money. Here are 10 things I’m doing so I’m ready the second iPhone Duo pre-orders go live at 5 a.m. Pacific.

Key takeaways

• Decide your color and storage, plus backups.
• Use Apple’s Get Ready feature (AT&T has something similar) to pre-fill your order.
• Make sure your logins, payment and address are all correct.
• Check upgrade eligibility and decide on protection.
• Set an alarm and have multiple sites open.

1. Choose your color and storage

Lock down what you really want, then pick a second, third and even fourth choice. 512GB is the sweet spot for me. I’d love 1TB or 2TB, but I don’t want to spend that much if I don’t have to.

2. Complete Apple’s Get Ready

Apple’s Get Ready lets you pick storage, color, carrier, and whether you’ll finance or pay by card ahead of time. When pre-orders open, you just go to the site and hit order. I’m aiming for the unlocked model.

3. Check your app and website logins

Make sure you know your password, or that it’s saved correctly in your password manager, so you don’t get stuck at login.

4. Lock in payment and address

Make sure your payment method and shipping address are correct and not set to an old card or address.

5. Compare deals and trade-ins

See who has the best trade-in offer and deal, whether that’s Apple, your carrier or Best Buy. This phone will be limited.

6. Check your upgrade eligibility

If you’re upgrading through a carrier or Apple’s upgrade program, make sure you’re eligible. If not, you may need to pay a fee to get there.

7. Decide on protection

Decide ahead of time whether you’re adding AppleCare or another protection plan, so you’re not making that call in the middle of checkout.

8. Delivery or pickup?

Know whether you want delivery or pickup at a carrier store, Best Buy or an Apple Store. I’m doing delivery.

9. Make a backup plan

Choose alternate colors, storage and sellers in case yours sells out. In the past, Apple’s store sometimes didn’t go live exactly at 5 a.m. Pacific, maybe 5:20 or 5:30, while carriers and Best Buy went live right on time. Have multiple windows open.

10. Set your alarm

This is the most important one. I’m waking up 15 to 20 minutes early, around 4:40–4:45 a.m. Pacific, and refreshing every couple of minutes.

Where to pre-order

• Best Buy or Verizon
• Accessories: BENKS cases, dbrand cases, OhSnap Snap Grip, PopSockets Low-Pro and Kick-Out