iPhone 12 pre-orders: the one thing you need to do TODAY to ensure you don’t miss out

Apple will kickstart pre-orders for its some of the latest iPhone models tomorrow at 1pm. The smartphones, which were announced earlier this week during a pre-recorded event, boast an all-new design, improved cameras with dramatically boosted low-light performance, support for super fast 5G mobile download speeds, and new colours. Although four new iPhone models were revealed during the Apple Event, ranging from a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini to the behemoth 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max, only two will be available to buy on October 16.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, which both sport a 6.1-inch OLED display – that Apple calls a Super Retina XDR, 5G support, and improved cameras, will be the only two models available to pre-order on Friday October 16, 2020. If you’re wondering what seaprates these two smartphones, the main differences between the standard iPhone 12 and the upgraded iPhone 12 Pro are largely found in the rear-facing camera.

The iPhone 12 Pro has three cameras on the back as well as a LiDAR sensor. These extra additions (the iPhone 12 only has a 12 main camera and a ultra-wide angle) enable the Pro model to produce lossless 4x zoom (compared to 2x on the iPhone 12) as well as digital zoom up to 10x (compared to 5x on the iPhone 12). Not only that, but iPhone 12 Pro can combine Night mode with Portrait Mode, which adds a bokeh-style blur behind the subject to recreate the effect of using a DSLR, so you won’t have to use the blinding LED flash in gloomier bars and restaurants.

iPhone 12 starts from £799. For that, you’ll get 64GB of storage. Doubling that to 128GB will set you back £849. Meanwhile, the maxed-out iPhone 12 with 256GB of storage will set you back £949 in the UK. iPhone 12 ships in five finishes, including White, Black, Blue, Green, and Product (RED).

When it comes to the iPhone 12 Pro, things get a little pricier. iPhone 12 Pro starts from £999, however, the entry-level model ships with a more generous 128GB – which is the bare minimum needed if you plan on shooting 4K video or slow-motion with the camera on any of these new Apple handsets. The beefier 256GB model costs £1,099, while the maxed-out 512GB model will set you back a cool £1,299. iPhone 12 Pro is available in four finishes – Graphite (which replaced the Space Grey option from last year), Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue.

For both iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, Apple offers a number of payment plans, including a repayment plan from Barclays with 0% APR. There’s also the Apple-operated iPhone Upgrade Plan, which lets you pay for the new handset in instalments – before swapping your iPhone for the latest model each year. This plan bundles Apple Care+, which discounts the cost of replacing a smashed screen as well as a number of other repairs. Apple will discount the cost of your new handset if you trade-in an older iPhone too.

With the launch of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, Apple is offering up to a maximum of £280 off the cost of its new flagship phones.

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iPhone 12 Mini, which has the same internals as the iPhone 12 but comes in a dinkier 5.4-inch package, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which is the same as the iPhone 12 Pro but packs a larger 6.7-inch display and upgraded camera, won’t be available to pre-order until November 6, 2020. So, if you’re hoping to get your hands on one of these models, you should hold fire for the time being.

However, if you’re looking to bag either an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro, there’s one way to ensure you’re at the front of the queue.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Pre-Order: how to ensure you reserve a smartphone before release date

First up, you’ll need to download the Apple Store app on your existing iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Traditionally, the update to the Apple Store – with the ability to add the latest Apple products to your virtual basket – happens much faster on the iOS app than the website, which means pre-orders are almost always available before those waiting for the website to refresh.

For the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, pre-orders will kickstart tomorrow, Friday October 16, at 1pm BST.

Of course, there’s another reason to use the iOS app over the website – this time around, Apple is offering iPhone fans the chance to get ahead of the queue. Right now, Apple fans can choose their preferred iPhone model, storage option, and work-out the trade-in value of their old handset ahead of time. This saves a panic at stocks are dwindling at 1.05pm.

Not only that, but app users can get pre-approved for a no-interest loan from Barclays to pay off their new smartphone over the next 24-months. If you’re planning to pay in full, you can verify that Apple has the correct details saved in Apple Pay for the faster check-out.

However, you need to do all of this pre-pre-order preparation (try saying that three times fast, eh?) before 5am on October 16. After that time, Apple closes the ability to choose your iPhone model, get pre-approval for a 0% APR loan from Barclays, or work out your trade-in value ahead of time and choose your preferred payment card – all so you’re ready to bag your new iPhone with a single tap as soon as the clock strikes 1.00pm on Friday October 16, 2020.