Apple Store goes down ahead of iPhone 16 pre-orders launch [Video]

The online store, where consumers can buy everything from Macs to iPhones directly from Apple, went down on the morning of Friday, September 13.

In a nod to the buzz around the iPhone 16, the online store is showing a message that reads: “We love that early energy. Almost ready for you.”

The text is displayed below the same animated Apple logo that was used for the company’s recent Glowtime event, where it unveiled the iPhone 16, along with the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4, among other products.

As Apple reveals in its statement, iPhone 16 pre-orders begin at 1pm today. That’s when Apple will essentially allow anyone to purchase the device ahead of its release date of September 20, which is when the new iPhone should start shipping.

Apple typically takes its store offline in the hours preceding a major product launch – and they don’t come much …