It isn’t enough to have great new devices, apps, and games — you also have to know how to use them. Here at The Verge, we offer step-by-step how-tos for experienced and new users who are working with online, macOS, Windows, Chrome OS, iOS, and Android apps, services, phones, laptops, and other tools. From simple instructions on how to install and use new devices, to little-known strategies on how to take advantage of hidden features and the best methods for adding power or storage, we’ve got your technological back. The long wait for the more affordable iPhone XR is nearly over. Following its mid-September announcement alongside the flagship iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, preorders for the $749 XR begin on Friday, October 19th, and the phone will be available the following Friday, October 26th. Preordering is necessary if you want to receive your new iPhone on launch day. Those who opt out of preordering may be lucky enough to find a new model at a local carrier retail store shortly after launch, though it’s more likely that you may be without one for as long as a few days or weeks. If you’re set on preordering, get your iPhone ready to trade in, and be prepared to stay up late — no matter where you are in the US. Boot up the Apple Store app on your iPhone this Friday, October 19th at 12:01AM PT / 3:01AM ET to be among the first to place your order. If you have an iPhone X, you can get up to $525 in credit toward your purchase through Apple’s GiveBack trade-in program. Even trading in an iPhone 7 can knock $200 off of your final purchase price. The 64GB XR model is $749, or $37.41 per month for 24 months with Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program. For a XR with 128GB of storage, the outright cost is $799, or $39.50 per month. At the top of the pricing spectrum, the 256GB model costs $899 all at once, or $43.66 per month for 24 months through Apple’s financing. Keep in mind that an unlocked version isn’t currently offered, and Apple will force you to choose a carrier at checkout. Preorders for T-Mobile customers begin online at 12:01AM PT / 3:01AM ET on Friday, October 19th. The iPhone XR will be eligible for T-Mobile’s new 36-month plan that will reduce how much you pay each month. Sprint will open up preorders for the XR on Friday, October 19th. But if you don’t want to stay up late, its Priority Status will let you save a spot in the queue. If you’re on AT&T’s network, preorders will begin on Friday, starting at 12AM PT / 3AM ET. You can purchase the XR for $749.99 outright, or pay $25 per month for 30 months. You’ll be able to preorder from U.S. Cellular starting on October 19th at 12:01AM PT / 3:01AM ET. It won’t offer special promotions for trade-ins, but it’s still a good shot to secure the XR before launch day arrives. Preorders at Verizon begin at 12:01AM PT / 3:01AM ET on October 19th. The 64GB model costs $749.99 outright, and if monthly payments is what you’re after, it will cost $31.24 per month for 24 months. Even paying $37.49 monthly for the 256GB version will bring you within a dollar of its cost outright. In terms of special offers, Verizon is knocking 25 percent off of iPhone XR cases until the phone’s release on 10/26. Preorders begin at Sam’s Club at 12:01AM PT / 3:01AM ET on Friday, October 19th. If you preorder the XR and activate it upon its October 26th release for Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, or T-Mobile, you’ll receive a $100 Sam’s Club gift card. If you preorder and activate the XR at Walmart through Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint, you’ll receive $100 back in savings. You can reserve a phone on Walmart’s website, though you’ll need to head to your local store to take advantage of this deal. Are you curious how the iPhone XR stacks up to the iPhone XS and XS Max? We’ve compared each and every spec so that the buying decision is a bit easier.<doc-sep>The Apple Store app has been updated to support Siri Shortcuts. It provides shoppers with an “even faster way” to preorder the iPhone XR later this month, Apple says. Here’s what you need to do to get everything set up before October 19. The Apple Store app makes it easier to buy Apple products from your iOS device. It’s a vastly better experience than using the Apple website in Safari on a small screen. And thanks to Siri Shortcuts support, it’s now even better. Apple Store app works with Siri Shortcuts Rather than having to load up the Apple Store on October 19 to preorder your iPhone XR, just ask Siri to do it. If you’re signed up to the iPhone Upgrade Program, look out for the “Add to Siri” button that will appear when you’re going through the pre-approval process. You’ll be able to set your own voice command, such as “preorder my iPhone XR,” which will speed up the ordering process. “Say your phrase when pre-order begins, and let Siri pull up your pre-approval in the App Store app so you can quickly complete your order,” Apple explains. Get the Apple Store update today Apple Store version 5.1.1 also adds support for Apple Watch Series 4’s larger display. You can download the update from the App Store now.<doc-sep>Apple has taken the wraps off its latest and greatest iPhones — the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. The three iPhones boast a ton of new features, including a more modern design on the lower-cost iPhone XR and improvements to the processing power of all of the phones. First, you need to figure out which new iPhone is right for you. Check out our iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max reviews to see how they stack up, or maybe read up on why the iPhone XR is the better choice. Once you have decided, where should you buy it from? We put together this guide to help. Here’s how, when, and where to buy the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. iPhone XR If you’re looking to get your hands on Apple’s most colorful new iPhone, you can now do so straight through the Apple website. You can buy the iPhone XR unlocked and activate with any carrier later if you like. Pricing for the iPhone XR is as follows: iPhone XR 64GB: $750, or $37.41 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program. $750, or $37.41 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program. iPhone XR 128GB: $800, or $39.50 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program. $800, or $39.50 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program. iPhone XR 256GB: $900, or $43.66 per month with the iPhone Upgrade Program. You may prefer to buy the iPhone XR from Verizon. Here are the prices: iPhone XR 64GB: $750, or $31.24 per month for 24 months. $750, or $31.24 per month for 24 months. iPhone XR 128GB: $800, or $33.33 per month for 24 months. $800, or $33.33 per month for 24 months. iPhone XR 256GB: $900, or $37.49 per month for 24 months. And if you’re looking for a deal, Verizon has several in store. Here’s a quick rundown of the current promotions: Buy an iPhone on the Verizon device payment plan and get $100 off an iPad on a device payment plan, or $50 off an Apple Watch on a device payment plan. Get 25 percent off select Beats merchandise when you purchase an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. AT&T also sells Apple’s most colorful iPhone in years. If you’re thinking about picking up a new iPhone XR you may want to keep AT&T in mind. The carrier is offering a free iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or $700 toward another Apple device when you purchase the new iPhone XR with a new line activation. Pricing for the iPhone XR through AT&T is as follows: iPhone XR 64GB: $750, or $25 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next. $750, or $25 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next. iPhone XR 128GB: $800, or $27 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next. $800, or $27 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next. iPhone XR 256GB: $900, or $3- per month for 30 months on AT&T Next. If you’re looking for a pop of color, T-Mobile is carrying Apple’s new whimsical iPhone XR. The Un-carrier currently offers the iPhone XR online at T-Mobile and the phone is available in-store. Since T-Mobile offers lots different payment options, we’re going to recommend you go to T-Mobile directly to see exactly what device payment plan that’s the best fit. Pricing for the iPhone XR on T-Mobile is as follows: iPhone XR 64GB: $750 $750 iPhone XR 128GB: $800 $800 iPhone XR 256GB: $900 And whether you’re a new customer or not, T-Mobile is offering a pretty awesome deal for the iPhone XR. Simply trade in your current device for up to half off the new iPhone XR. If you’re a Sprint customer you may be eligible to take advantage of a great deal on the iPhone XR. Lease the new iPhone XR, XS, or XS Max at the full lease price, and you’ll be eligible for a 64GB iPhone XR lease at $0 per month (after a $31.25 monthly bill credit). If you’d rather pick up an iPhone XS or XS Max, you can still take advantage of the $31.25 monthly bill credit with this promotion. Whether you’re planning to purchase the iPhone XR outright or through Sprint Flex, pricing for the new phone is listed below: iPhone XR 64GB: $750, or $31.25 per month for 18 months on a Sprint Flex lease. $750, or $31.25 per month for 18 months on a Sprint Flex lease. iPhone XR 128GB: $800, or $31.25 per month for 18 months with a $50 down payment on a Sprint Flex lease. $800, or $31.25 per month for 18 months with a $50 down payment on a Sprint Flex lease. iPhone XR 256GB: $900, or $31.25 per month for 18 months with a $150 down payment on a Sprint Flex lease. U.S. Cellular has the iPhone XR available in store now. When it comes to deals, U.S. Cellular has one special deal in particular for those that want the iPhone XR. First off, customers that purchase the iPhone XR through U.S. Cellular will have access to the new Unlimited with Payback Total plan, which pays back users for data that they don’t use. Customers get back $10 per month when they use less than 3GB of data per line. As a special deal, Xfinity Mobile is offering new customers $300 if they purchase a new iPhone, activate a new line, and port over their number. Retailers Looking to score a sweet deal on a new iPhones at your local store? You’re in luck because some retailers are offering special deals on Apple’s newest smartphone. iPhone XS As you might expect, you can order the new iPhone XS from Apple unlocked, if you so choose. Pricing for the iPhone XS is as follows: iPhone XS 64GB: $1,000, or $49.91 per month with the iPhone upgrade program. $1,000, or $49.91 per month with the iPhone upgrade program. iPhone XS 256GB: $1,150, or $56.16 per month with the iPhone upgrade program. $1,150, or $56.16 per month with the iPhone upgrade program. iPhone XS 512GB: $1,350, or $64.50 per month with the iPhone upgrade program. If you’re looking to purchase an iPhone XS, you may want to look no further than Verizon. America’s largest carrier is offering some excellent deals on Apple’s latest smartphones. Pricing for the iPhone XS through Verizon is as follows: iPhone XS 64GB: $1,000, or $41.66 per month for 24 months. $1,000, or $41.66 per month for 24 months. iPhone XS 256GB: $1,150, or $47.91 per month for 24 months. $1,150, or $47.91 per month for 24 months. iPhone XS 512GB: $1,350, or $56.24 per month for 24 months. Remember those deals we mentioned? Verizon has several that you may want to check out. Here’s a quick rundown: Buy an iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max through Verizon, and you will get $750 off a second iPhone, as long as you purchase both on a Verizon payment plan and activate a new line. That offer is available to both existing and non-existing customers. Guarantee of at least $100 trade-in value for customers that buy an iPhone XS, XS Max, 8, or 8 Plus. That discount will be applied over 24 months as bill credits. Buy an iPhone on the Verizon device payment plan and get $100 off an iPad on a device payment plan, or $50 off an Apple Watch on a device payment plan. Buy an iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad, and get 25 percent off select Beats products. Looking to pick up your iPhone XS directly through AT&T? You’re in luck because the carrier is offering some pretty sweet deals. The company has announced that for a limited time, customers who buy an iPhone X, iPhone XS , or iPhone XS Max and add a new line will get an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus at no extra cost, or $700 toward another Apple device. Pricing for the iPhone XS through AT&T is as follows: iPhone XS 64GB: $1,000, or $33.34 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next, or $41.67 per month for 24 months on AT&T Next Every Year.<doc-sep>
Apple on Tuesday issued an update to its official Apple Store app, delivering Siri Shortcuts integration that, come Oct. 19, will afford iPhone Upgrade Program subscribers the ability to pre-order iPhone XR using nothing more than their voice. Siri Shortcuts integration is the highlight feature of Apple's Apple Store app update, which reached version 5.1.1 today. With the new capability, iPhone Upgrade Program members will be able to quickly access the iPhone XR landing page when pre-orders begin on Oct. 19. To use the feature, users simply tap the "Add to Siri" button during the pre-approval process and record a custom voice command. Apple suggests the phrase "pre-order my iPhone." Like iPhone XS and XS Max, the Apple Store app is facilitating pre-approvals to streamline the pre-order process which goes live later this month. Once pre-orders begin, those who have saved the Siri Shortcut can trigger Siri using their custom phrase, which pulls up pre-approval information in the App Store app. From there, users need only to complete the order and check out. In addition to Siri Shortcuts integration, the Apple Store app update brings support for Apple Watch Series 4's larger screen sizes. Unveiled at a special event in September, iPhone XR is Apple's more affordable alternative to this year's flagship X-series handsets. The device boasts cutting edge technologies including the TrueDepth camera system and Face ID biometric security, a revamped rear-facing shooter with single-lens Portrait Mode photography, dual-SIM capability and Apple's new A12 Bionic processor. Instead of an OLED display, iPhone XR cuts costs by using a 6.1-inch "Liquid Retina" LCD screen and aluminum chassis, the latter of which allows Apple to offer the phone in a range of colors. Apple is scheduled to take iPhone XR pre-orders live on Oct. 19. Prices start at $749 or $37.41 per month for iPhone Upgrade Program members.