Today is October 21st, and it has now been a month and a week since Apple first released its new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Five full weeks, and yet it’s still next to impossible to find the model that everyone wants. The larger iPhone 7 Plus is vastly superior to its smaller sibling this year, and Apple’s new glossy jet black color is obviously the most desirable color of the season. It’s also the most difficult color for Apple’s manufacturing partners to create, and you know what happens when high demand meets low supply.
If you want a jet black iPhone 7 Plus, you have two options: you can either stalk your local Apple stores every single morning until you find one in stock, or you can order one online. If you’re not the stalker type and you want your shiny new iPhone before Christmas though, you had better order one right away.
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As of Friday morning, the soonest shipping estimate for Apple’s jet black iPhone 7 Plus models has now slipped back to December. Apple’s online stores shows a delivery window of six to eight weeks for new orders, which means deliveries are not expected to be made until December 2nd at the earliest and December 16th at the latest. Friday also marks the release of the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in several additional countries, which means supply might not improve anytime soon.
On other words, if you want a new iPhone 7 Plus in jet black and you want it to arrive before Christmas, you had better order it right away. If you want one in time for the start of Hanukkah, you might already be too late.
Your other option, as we mentioned, is to keep your eye on stores in your area. Stores in big cities have begun to get some shipments of jet black iPhone 7 Plus inventory, but it’s usually sold out by mid-morning. Keep your eye on third-party inventory tracking site iStockNow every morning and be ready to pounce.
