It’s that time of year again: Apple is set to unveil its latest line of iPhone 16 models at its iPhone event next week on Monday, September 9. And if you’re planning on upgrading your phone next week, don’t immediately rush to the Apple Store when the event ends because the new iPhones won’t be available to buy just yet.
Apple is pretty consistent when it comes to releasing its new products, and we don't expect that to change this year. We'll tell you when we expect Apple to release the iPhone 16 after its event. We'll also let you know when you'll be able to download iOS 18 (Apple's latest software) on your current iPhone.
Want to follow along during Apple's big event? Here's how to watch the iPhone 16 announcement. (We'll post a link to our live blog closer to the event's start time.)
When can I buy the new iPhone 16?
While we won't have a firm date for iPhone 16 availability until Monday's iPhone event, we can predict the date based on Apple's consistency in the past. Here's what we expect:
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Monday, September 9: Official Apple Event (confirmed)
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Friday, September 13th: Pre-orders open
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Week of September 16: iOS 18 available for download
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Friday, September 20: New iPhones and other devices in stores
Again, aside from the confirmed announcement event, these dates are just speculation based on Apple’s history of previous iPhone releases. For example, Apple typically opens pre-orders on the Friday after an iPhone event. So if Apple follows its previous cadence, you’ll be able to reserve an iPhone 16 on Friday, September 13. Likewise, if Apple keeps the same schedule as in the past, that would mean the iPhone 16 will officially be available to buy on Friday, September 20.
What about the new Apple Watch and AirPods products that are expected to be announced alongside the rumored new iPhone 16 series? They usually follow the same dates as well, but there have been some delays in the past. It's entirely possible that one or more of these expected products could hit stores in the coming weeks, possibly even in October.
When will I be able to download the new iOS 18?
If you're not planning on buying the new iPhone 16, you'll still have the option to make your older iPhone similar with the new iOS 18 update, as long as your iPhone is eligible (almost all models introduced in the last six years are).
While Apple won't announce when it will release iOS 18 to the public until its event, we can again speculate based on the past. The newest software will be available the week after the event — at the earliest, that would be Monday, September 16, though it might not be available until mid-week.
We'll update official dates for new hardware and software after Apple announces them on Monday.
