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Apple begins charging credit cards for MacBook Pro with Touch Bar preorders ahead of shipping

An increasing number of customers that ordered Apple’s new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models report having their credit card charged this morning ahead of Apple’s earliest expected shipping date of November 17. A few of us on the 9to5Mac team have also had our cards charged today.

Apple typically begins shipping devices shortly after charging credit cards, but so far it appears to have not yet changed the status of orders to provide an expected delivery day. Apple usually changes orders from “Processing” to “Shipped” after charging cards, at which time customers should have a more accurate estimated delivery date provided compared to Apple’s original estimated week-long window.

Apple first unveiled the new MacBook Pros on October 27 and began accepting orders the same day. It’s already started shipping an entry-level 13-inch model that includes traditional function keys, but the new model with Apple’s Retina Touch Bar display embedded in the keyboard started with a shipping estimate of 2-3 weeks before increasing to 4-5 weeks due to demand. Apple said the new models set an online sales record, but it didn’t provide specifics on sales numbers.

Apple on occasion ends up shipping pre-ordered devices ahead of original shipping estimates, as was the case for some customers with the recent iPhone 7 launch. But we’ll have to wait until Apple begins changing orders to “Shipped” to find out which end of its original shipping window it will end up on.

Last week Apple announced price drops for its USB-C accessories to help ease the transition to the new MacBook Pros that include USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, and it also offered limited time discounts on the new displays it’s releasing in collaboration with LG. The new 5K LG UltraFine display is expected to become available in December, as are many updates to apps that will support the new Touch Bar. Apple expects to update Logic Pro X, its pro audio suite, with support for the Touch Bar by early next year.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.