Third-party sellers in China are offering the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro for 9,099 yuan, 900 yuan below Apple’s official 9,999-yuan price, barely two days after pre-orders opened. The reduction combines a 300-yuan platform subsidy with a 600-yuan store promotion, and the seller promised shipment by September 27. The listing’s customer-service representatives warned that the price could fall further and would not be protected after purchase. The unusually early discount contrasts with previous iPhone Pro launches, when new models generally sold at full price or premiums. In the U.S., most iPhone 18 Pro configurations retained launch-day delivery for September 18, while several iPhone 18 Pro Max models moved to two- to three-week estimates. Analysts caution that delivery availability can reflect higher inventory rather than weak demand. Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo, a foldable device, could also prompt consumers to delay purchases; pre-orders are scheduled for October 16, followed by a release on October 23. The divergent signals could affect Apple’s premium-tier sales, average selling prices, margins and December-quarter revenue from Greater China. Apple is due to report fiscal fourth-quarter results in late October, including the first days of iPhone 18 Pro sales, and had not immediately responded to a request for comment.