When Apple Might Release iOS 18 for Your iPhone

Apple introduced iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the tech big has since launched a number of beta variations of the software program. Those variations convey new options, like RCS messaging, customizable residence and lock screens and extra, to the iPhones of builders and beta testers. You can anticipate a lot of these capabilities to land in your iPhone quickly. 

Read extra: Everything You Need to Know About the iOS 18 Betas

Apple stated it’s going to launch the replace to most of the people this fall, which is nice however not essentially the most useful timeframe. If we take a look at previous Apple occasions in September and earlier iOS releases, a sample emerges. We might anticipate Apple to launch iOS 18 a couple of days after this 12 months’s September occasion. 

Apple is traditionally tight-lipped about new merchandise and releases, however here is once I assume Apple will launch iOS 18 primarily based on hidden data proven to me in a dream — and principally my very own empirical evaluation.

When is Apple’s September occasion?

Apple introduced its September occasion can be held subsequent week on Sept. 9. That means we do not have to attend for much longer for iOS 18 to be launched.

Why will Apple launch iOS 18 quickly after the occasion?

Apple does not normally announce the discharge of iOS variations, nevertheless it does stick near a script from 12 months to 12 months.

For greater than a decade, Apple has persistently held occasions each June and September. The firm might need different particular occasions in March (see 2022) or October (see 2021) however its June and September occasions occur yearly like clockwork.

After most of Apple’s September occasions, the corporate releases the subsequent iOS inside every week. In 2023, for instance, Apple’s occasion was held on Sept. 12 and it launched iOS 17 six days afterward Sept. 18. 

There have solely been two years over the previous decade the place it took longer than every week for Apple to launch the subsequent iOS model — 2019 and 2014. Even in these situations, Apple nonetheless launched the subsequent iOS model eight or 9 days after its September occasion. 

The variety of days between Apple’s September occasion and the discharge of the subsequent iOS model has additionally trended downward over the previous decade. In 2014, Apple launched iOS 8 on Sept. 17, eight days after its Sept. 9 occasion, and in 2022 Apple launched iOS 16 on Sept. 12, 5 days after the corporate’s Sept. 7 occasion.

In the previous decade, eight iOS variations have been launched inside every week after the September occasion, and just one has come out lower than 5 days after the occasion. My guess is Apple will launch iOS 18 between 5 and 7 days after its September occasion this 12 months.

What days of the week have been previous iOS variations launched on?

In the previous decade, Apple has launched all of the iOS model updates through the week. Apple launched one iOS model on a Thursday and the reminders between Monday and Wednesday. And in that very same timeframe, Apple hasn’t launched an iOS model on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Mondays and Wednesdays are standard days for Apple to launch iOS variations, with 4 iOS variations being launched on Mondays and three on Wednesdays. Apple additionally launched two iOS variations on Tuesday. It’s extra possible that Apple will launch iOS 18 on a Monday or Wednesday.

Interestingly, Apple launched the previous three iOS variations on the Monday following its September occasions. So this could possibly be the brand new norm and Apple will launch all future iOS variations on the Monday after its September occasion.

OK, so what day will iOS 18 be launched?

I’m predicting Apple will launch iOS 18 on Monday, Sept. 16. We know that Apple is holding its September occasion on Sept. 9, and primarily based on previous releases I predict Apple will launch iOS 18 between 5 and 7 days after that occasion. That would put the discharge on Sept. 14, 15 or 16. 

Sept. 14 and 15 fall on a Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and Apple has by no means launched an iOS replace on the weekend — so these dates are out. That leaves Monday, Sept. 16. Since Apple launched the final three iOS variations on Mondays, I feel that can maintain true once more this 12 months.

I used to be proper about iOS 17’s launch in 2023, so fingers crossed I’m proper once more. I’d purchase a lottery ticket if I’m.

For extra on Apple, take a look at our iOS 18 cheat sheet and what to anticipate from Apple’s September occasion.

Watch this: Apple’s iPhone 16 Glowtime Event: What We Expect

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