iPhone Duo Pre-Pre-Order: Apple Get Ready Walkthrough

Quick summary: Apple’s Get Ready lets you set up your iPhone Duo order ahead of time and speed through checkout when pre-orders open at 5 a.m. Pacific on October 16. The phone releases October 23. Here’s exactly how I configured mine, and my plan to hedge my bets.

Key takeaways

• Get Ready lets you choose your phone, payment and details now, then check out fast at 5 a.m. PT.
• My pick: white, 512GB, at $2,199. My backup is 256GB.
• 1TB is $400 more than 512GB, and 2TB is $3,199.
• Trade-ins go up to $885 off with an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there’s not much for Android phones.
• With AppleCare One and financing, my total came to $2,406.41 after $192 in tax and a $15 California recycling fee.

Walking through Get Ready

From apple.com, scroll to the iPhone Duo and hit view pricing. It says to choose your new iPhone today, then speed through checkout when pre-orders start.

Color: white or a dark one Apple calls Night Sky, which looks more blue to me. I’m going white, and I’d happily take Night Sky if white sells out.

Storage: 512GB is the safe bet. 1TB is $400 more than 512GB, and 2TB is $3,199. If 512GB isn’t available, I’ll probably go 256GB.

Trade-in: up to $885 off with an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple’s Android list is oddly old. I’m not trading in.

Carrier: I’m going unlocked and connecting to a carrier later.

AppleCare One vs AppleCare+

AppleCare+ with theft and loss gives unlimited accident repairs and up to two theft or loss claims per 12 months. AppleCare One covers up to three products, including theft and loss for the iPhone, at the same price until canceled. I went with AppleCare One.

Payment and total

I’m financing with my Apple Card, which gets me about $72 cash back. That basically pays for an Apple Pencil. I’m skipping the Pencil from Apple for now and will buy it elsewhere. With the 512GB white and AppleCare One, my total was $2,406.41 including tax and fees.

My plan for pre-order day

I’ve heard production may be up around 30%, so it might take two or three hours to sell out instead of 15 minutes. My guess is Apple’s site goes live a bit late, around 5:15–5:20, while carriers and Best Buy go live right at 5. So I’ll hedge:

1. Pre-order at Best Buy or my carrier right at 5 a.m.
2. When Apple’s site goes live, order the unlocked version there.
3. If Apple’s arrives on time, cancel the other. If not, keep the carrier version, pay it off and unlock it.

AT&T also has a similar get-ready page. If you buy at Best Buy, I recommend its Total protection plan. It’s about $200 a year and includes AppleCare on Apple products I buy there.

Accessories

• BENKS iPhone Duo cases
• OhSnap Snap Grip stand
• PopSockets Low-Pro grip and Kick-Out