It's already getting easier to find the iPhone 7 model you want, and we'll show you how

Image: Apple Inc.

Is it a good sign or a bad sign for Apple that availability of its brand new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is already starting to improve. On the one hand, it could mean that demand is lighter than expected and the short supply we saw at launch is already leveling now that early adopters have their iPhones. Another possibility is that the rumored manufacturing issues that caused supply shortages to begin with were ironed out ahead of launch and shipments are finally starting to roll in a bit more regularly ahead of Apple’s second wave of launches.

Based on what we’ve heard from a few sources, the latter is the more likely possibility — demand is still believed to be quite strong for Apple’s “boring” new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. But if you live in or around a major metropolitan area in the US, you might be surprised at how easy it now is to find the new iPhone model you’re looking for.

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Apple shares are up nearly 8% compared to where the stock was at ahead of the company’s big iPhone unveiling and launch. Analysts continue to see positive signs that are leading to increased estimates for Apple’s iPhone business in the coming quarters, and a few price targets have even been raised at major firms. Launch day wasn’t quite as chaotic since Apple announced ahead of time that no stores in the country would have any iPhone 7 Plus inventory, but there was still plenty of commotion over Apple’s latest and greatest iPhones.

Now that the dust is beginning to settle and the first round of preorders has ben filled, Apple stores in major metro areas are starting to see improvements in supply. How do we know? Yesterday we showed you how to check iPhone 7 stock at any Apple store in the country without having to make a single phone call, and checks in areas like New York and Los Angeles show a surprising amount of inventory right now — as long as you’re not looking for Jet Black.

So what should you do if you want to buy an iPhone 7? Go to one of the sites we linked in yesterday’s post and search your region for the model you want. When you find it, go to Apple’s online store and reserve the phone for an in-store pickup using Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program. Don’t worry, once you get to the store to purchase the phone you’ll still be able to use your wireless carrier’s upgrade program if you’d like.

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Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.