It looks like the Apple iPhone 18 Pro, along with the 18 Pro Max and the company’s first foldable iPhone, possibly called the iPhone Ultra, are about to be announced at an event in September. A new report now claims a different date for the keynote address, which I believe is incorrect. This is when it will really be, along with all other parts of the calendar, down to the minute. Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxGetty ImagesApple iPhone 18 Pro Release date: September 9 This date is the most crucial: once confirmed, all other parts of the launch schedule slide effortlessly. I’ve been harping on for a long time about when I think the keynote will be (read this for details on each part of the launch schedule), but a new report from Australian site Channel News claims to have exclusive information. ForbesApple’s iPhone 18 Pro could sell out faster than ever, new data warnsBy David Phelan“Apple will unveil its first foldable iPhone at its September 8 launch event in the US, but will not bring the device to market, and a major Chinese component supplier confirms the company is battling supply, testing and pricing issues that could see Australia sidelined for months,” he said. I think that date is incorrect, and you can read the research I did to support this here. Essentially, Apple has never held an iPhone keynote the day after Labor Day, which this year falls on Monday, September 7. Therefore, I think September 8 is very unlikely. However, the next day, Wednesday, September 9, ticks all the boxes, and even Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who initially said September 8 was the most likely, switched his allegiance to September 9. Trust me, it will take place on Wednesday, September 9 at 10am Pacific Time, 1pm Eastern Time, 6pm UK Time. It will take place in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino. As for when the keynote speech will be announced, I believe it will be Wednesday, August 26; read more about that here. Apple iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-orders open Saturday, September 12 The keynote date usually means pre-orders open the following Friday… but it looks like not this year. I hadn’t realized this, but Apple not only avoids 9/11 for keynotes, but also for pre-order dates. Since September 11 falls on a Friday, the company’s traditional day for pre-orders, that activity will begin a day later, on Saturday, September 12. Mark Gurman had more information on this. Apple iPhone 18 Pro: iOS 27 General Release: Monday, September 14. The software, which is compatible with many more phones than the iPhone 18 series, will be released before the new phones go on sale. This is not entirely clear: Apple has sometimes released software a day or two earlier or later than expected. But not often. Since 2021, the first version of each new iOS cycle arrives on the Monday after the keynote. In 2020, iOS 14 landed on Wednesday after the keynote, but more recently, Monday has been the consistent day for five years running. As such, it seems likely that Monday will be the day the software arrives. Remember that iOS 27 is for many more phones than the expected new releases. All iPhones that can run iOS 26 will also be compatible with iOS 27. In total, there are 31 iPhones that will be covered by the next software cycle, all phones from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air. Plus, of course, the next generation of iPhones launching in September. Look out for 8am Pacific Time, 11am Eastern Time, 4pm UK Time, although it could be an hour or two later. Apple iPhone 18 Pro on-sale date: Friday, September 18. Assuming other dates are correct, this is almost certainly set in stone. Friday is always Apple’s favorite, in the week after the keynote. The only question is whether the foldable iPhone will be released at the same time (I think it will be) or whether it will be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max but go on sale later. ForbesHere’s when Apple will reveal its iPhone 18 Pro special eventBy David Phelan
