When Apple Might Release iOS 18 for Your iPhone [CNET]

Apple announced iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the tech giant has since released multiple beta versions of the software. Those versions bring new features, like RCS messaging, customizable home and lock screens and more, to the iPhones of developers and beta testers. You can expect many of those capabilities to land on your iPhone soon. 

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

Apple said it will release the update to the general public this fall, which is good but not the most helpful timeframe. If we look at past Apple events in September and earlier iOS releases, a pattern emerges. We may expect Apple to release iOS 18 a few days after this year’s September event. 

Apple is historically tight-lipped about new products and releases, but here’s when I think Apple will release iOS 18 based on hidden knowledge shown to me in a dream — and mostly my own empirical analysis.

When is Apple’s September event?

Apple announced its September event would be held next week on Sept. 9. That means we don’t have to wait much longer for iOS 18 to be released.

Why will Apple release iOS 18 soon after the event?

Apple doesn’t usually announce the release of iOS versions, but it does stick close to a script from year to year.

For more than a decade, Apple has consistently held events every June and September. The company might have other special events in March (see 2022) or October (see 2021) but its June and September events happen every year like clockwork.

After most of Apple’s September events, the company releases the next iOS within a week. In 2023, for example, Apple’s event was held on Sept. 12 and it released iOS 17 six days later on Sept. 18. 

There have only been two years over the past decade where it took longer than a week for Apple to release the next iOS version — 2019 and 2014. Even in those instances, Apple still released the next iOS version eight or nine days after its September event. 

The number of days between Apple’s September event and the release of the next iOS version has also trended downward over the past decade. In 2014, Apple released iOS 8 on Sept. 17, eight days after its Sept. 9 event, and in 2022 Apple released iOS 16 on Sept. 12, five days after the company’s Sept. 7 event.

In the past decade, eight iOS versions were released within a week after the September event, and only one has come out less than five days after the event. My guess is Apple will release iOS 18 between five and seven days after its September event this year.

What days of the week were past iOS versions released on?

In the past decade, Apple has released all the iOS version updates during the week. Apple released one iOS version on a Thursday and the reminders between Monday and Wednesday. And in that same timeframe, Apple hasn’t released an iOS version on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Mondays and Wednesdays are popular days for Apple to release iOS versions, with four iOS versions being released on Mondays and three on Wednesdays. Apple also released two iOS versions on Tuesday. It’s more likely that Apple will release iOS 18 on a Monday or Wednesday.

Interestingly, Apple released the past three iOS versions on the Monday following its September events. So this could be the new norm and Apple will release all future iOS versions on the Monday after its September event.

OK, so what day will iOS 18 be released?

I’m predicting Apple will release iOS 18 on Monday, Sept. 16. We know that Apple is holding its September event on Sept. 9, and based on past releases I predict Apple will release iOS 18 between five and seven days after that event. That would put the release on Sept. 14, 15 or 16. 

Sept. 14 and 15 fall on a Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and Apple has never released an iOS update on the weekend — so those dates are out. That leaves Monday, Sept. 16. Since Apple released the last three iOS versions on Mondays, I think that will hold true again this year.

I was right about iOS 17’s release in 2023, so fingers crossed I’m right again. I might buy a lottery ticket if I am.

For more on Apple, check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet and what to expect from Apple’s September event.

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

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