A useful shortlist starts with what you need from the phone. This record adds context: which combinations appeared in the observed history, how the counts split across storage and color, and which choices the latest snapshot lists. Keep those questions separate when deciding where to be flexible.
History snapshot: . Current stock snapshot: .
Begin with the counting unit
The unit in these tables is a recorded return: a store and configuration changing back to available in the source feed. It is an event count, not a shipment count, an order count or a measure of demand.
- The source rechecks a changed availability response about a second later and records the transition when both responses agree.
- The first observation of a store–configuration pair establishes a starting state. It is excluded from the return totals.
- These US tables use recorded source history from October 29, 2026. The country comparison below starts from November 2, 2026. Imported dates describe dataset coverage, not the age of ShelfSpring.
- Repeated returns for the same pair count as separate events. The availability response does not reveal how many phones were behind any one listing.
Read the denominator before the percentage
Read a ranking without turning it into a forecast
512GB Star White has the highest recorded count: 1,090 returns within a US sample of 3,688 events since October 29, 2026. The ordering describes this sample, not the next pickup opportunity.
| Configuration | US catalog price | Recorded returns | Share of US returns | Latest recorded return | Currently listing US stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 512GB Star White | $2,199 | 1,090 | 30% | Apple West 14th Street, Nov 7, 9:12 AM local time | 0 |
| 512GB Night Sky | $2,199 | 886 | 24% | Apple Ross Park, Nov 7, 9:09 AM local time | 0 |
| 256GB Star White | $1,999 | 847 | 23% | Apple Downtown Brooklyn, Nov 7, 9:14 AM local time | 0 |
| 256GB Night Sky | $1,999 | 647 | 18% | Apple Brandon, Nov 7, 9:17 AM local time | 2 |
| 1TB Night Sky | $2,599 | 82 | 2% | Apple Bellevue Square, Nov 6, 8:01 PM local time | 0 |
| 1TB Star White | $2,599 | 73 | 2% | Apple Wellington Green, Nov 6, 9:04 AM local time | 0 |
| 2TB Star White | $3,199 | 38 | 1% | Apple Fifth Avenue, Nov 7, 8:46 AM local time | 0 |
| 2TB Night Sky | $3,199 | 25 | 1% | Apple Millenia, Nov 5, 11:15 PM local time | 0 |
Source: Imported inventory events and catalog prices before sales tax; verify the offer on Apple
The price column belongs to the US catalog. The event columns describe history since October 29, 2026; the final column is a separate current-state snapshot. A configuration can rank highly in past returns and have no stores listing it in the current snapshot.
A different sample measures completed windows
Compare the distributions within each group
Grouping the same 3,688 US events by storage and by color answers two different comparison questions. Read the counts first, then use the percentage-point spread to describe the distribution within each group.
| Storage | US catalog price | Recorded returns | Share of US returns | Listed store–configuration pairs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | $1,999 | 1,494 | 41% | 2 |
| 512GB | $2,199 | 1,976 | 54% | 0 |
| 1TB | $2,599 | 155 | 4% | 0 |
| 2TB | $3,199 | 63 | 2% | 0 |
Source: US inventory history since October 29, 2026; current counts use the latest stock snapshot
| Color | Recorded returns | Share of US returns | Distinct US stores listing this color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night Sky | 1,640 | 44% | 2 |
| Star White | 2,048 | 56% | 0 |
Source: US inventory history since October 29, 2026; current counts use the latest stock snapshot
Storage groups have the wider observed spread in this sample. Storage and color have different numbers of categories, and both aggregate many stores. A wider spread does not establish which choice will matter more for your next local pickup.
The storage table’s current column counts listed pairs, so a store with two colors can contribute twice. The color table uses distinct stores instead. Read the unit with each count; neither table measures notification delivery.
Evaluate 2TB on its own terms
2TB accounts for 63 of 3,688 recorded US Duo returns (2%) since October 29, 2026. That share does not establish how frequently it will appear at a particular store.
Latest recorded 2TB return: 2TB Star White at Apple Fifth Avenue, Nov 7, 8:46 AM local time.
Its 2% share is approximately one in 59 recorded US returns in this sample. That is a way to express the distribution, not an estimate of how many days a store will take to receive it.
Read each country as its own sample
4 of the 4 country samples below currently contain readable configuration returns. Keep each country's coverage, sample size and latest listings together when planning a pickup there.
| Country | First configuration by return count | Its recorded returns | Country return sample | Stores represented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 512GB Night Sky | 69 | 196 | 27 / 28 |
| United Kingdom | 256GB Night Sky | 222 | 397 | 39 / 39 |
| Australia | 256GB Star White | 297 | 1,174 | 20 / 21 |
| Japan | 256GB Star White | 952 | 2,585 | 11 / 11 |
Source: Historical inventory observations; equal counts can share first place even when this summary shows one configuration
These country rows show one highest-count configuration per sample; tied configurations can share that count. A country with fewer stores or a smaller event sample is not directly comparable by raw totals to the United States.
Coverage is not a confidence score
Turn your preferences into a shortlist
Start with your storage needs and budget. Historical records can help compare acceptable alternatives; they cannot make an unsuitable configuration a good purchase.
- 1Set a storage floorName the capacity you need and the maximum price you would accept before considering the ranking.
- 2Choose colors you wantOnly include a color if you would be satisfied keeping the phone in that finish.
- 3Pair choices with reachable storesYour travel options and Apple’s collection choices determine which matches would be useful.
- 4Check the rule countFor example, three configurations at three stores use nine alerts. Compare that count with your plan’s capacity of 10, 20 or 50.
The ratio compares national historical counts. It does not promise a proportional number of alerts: your selected stores, saved rules, future events and delivery conditions all affect the messages you receive.
Questions about the configuration record
Does the first row identify the easiest phone to buy?
It identifies a configuration with the largest recorded return count in this US sample. The feed does not show demand, unit quantities or completed purchases, so that position cannot establish purchase odds. Equal counts may produce several leaders; check the full rows and Apple’s current pickup offer.
Should I change color because its share is higher?
The observed counts are 2,048 for Star White (56%) and 1,640 for Night Sky (44%) in the US history since October 29, 2026. These totals combine storage sizes and stores. Add another color only if you would want to own it; a national share is not a local availability forecast.
How should I compare 256GB with 512GB?
512GB has a catalog price $200 above 256GB in the US. Decide whether the extra storage fits your needs and budget, then compare the recorded counts and current listings in the storage table. The historical ranking does not explain Apple’s production or allocation decisions.
Why do storage and color tables use different current-count labels?
The storage table adds the currently listed store–configuration pairs for its colors. A store listing both colors therefore appears twice in that sum. The color table instead reports distinct stores with any listed storage size in that color. These are different counting units and should not be compared as equal totals.
How many saved alerts would my alternatives use?
Each store and exact configuration uses one alert slot. Three configurations at three stores use nine slots. Current plan capacities are 10 for Plus, 20 for Pro and 50 for Max; all use the same feed. Review the watchlist guide before choosing capacity.
Where can I inspect individual observations?
Open the US event journal for store, configuration and observation times. For its latest US daily bucket, 83 recorded returns across 48 stores. A journal entry describes a past change, so use the stock board and Apple’s checkout to check what is available now.
Sources
- ShelfSpring inventory record for 269 US Apple Stores; the four country comparison rows use their own catalogs: historical coverage from October 29, 2026 for US history and November 2, 2026 for the international comparison; figures updated Nov 7, 9:19 AM ET. Alerts are sent after matching availability is detected. Source checks, synchronization and notification delivery can add delay. Historical coverage dates describe the dataset, not the age of ShelfSpring.
- Apple’s iPhone Duo configuration and purchase options
- Apple’s delivery and collection guidance