Apple iPhone 17 Professional Max
David Phelan
June 28 replace: This submit, first printed on Saturday, June 27, was up to date to incorporate extra particulars of the precise (predicted) schedule that may lead as much as the discharge of this 12 months’s flagship iPhones.
Nothing is definite till it’s confirmed, however this week noticed a brand new clue as to when the iPhone 18 Professional can be launched to the general public. The discharge of the second developer beta of iOS 27 — the software program that may energy the brand new telephones — was bang-on-time. This implies the anticipated timetable is clearer than earlier than. Right here’s the refined schedule of how the software program releases will outline the {hardware} that goes with them, proper all the way down to the minute, so you possibly can mark your calendar, and even set your alarm!
By the way in which, alongside the iPhone 18 Professional, I’m anticipating the iPhone 18 Professional Max and Apple’s first folding cellphone, presumably referred to as the iPhone Extremely. Oh, and there’ll be two new Apple Watches, I predict, and maybe extra, all introduced on the identical day, although, as we’ll see under, it’s potential not all can be placed on sale concurrently.
Apple iPhone 18 Professional Launch Schedule: iOS 27 Developer Betas
The second developer beta of iOS 27 landed on Monday, June 22, 2026. That’s necessary as a result of it reveals that issues are going in accordance with plan. Keep in mind that it is a massive 12 months for Apple: the long-delayed new Siri is promised for the launch of iOS 27 and the brand new launch means to this point, so good.
Apple iPhone 18 Professional Launch Schedule: iOS 27 Public Betas
Subsequent, anticipate the third developer beta on or round July 6. Then the primary public beta. That was late final 12 months, launching simply after the fourth developer beta (they have been on July 22 for the dev beta and July 24 for the general public beta).
I imagine this 12 months there can be a return to the schedule of earlier years, that’s, the primary public beta will come a number of days after July 6 — although this might change.
Apple iPhone 18 Professional Launch Schedule: iOS 27 Launch Candidate
It’s probably there can be eight or 9 developer betas and 6 public betas, if earlier years are mimicked.
Then, on or round Sept. 9, we must always see the Launch Candidate of each developer and public beta.
Apple iPhone 18 Professional Launch Schedule: September Keynote
That is crucial date within the launch calendar. Except there’s a change so uncharacteristic which may result in questions like, “Is that this actually Apple?” the date of the keynote fixes the remainder of the schedule rigidly. That’s as a result of the most recent iPhone has, for greater than ten years, gone on sale on the Friday within the week after the keynote. I’m positive that routine can be adopted this 12 months.
This 12 months’s keynote, I imagine, will fall on the identical calendar date because the final two years, that’s, Sept. 9, the identical date because the iOS 27 Launch Candidate. This 12 months, Sept. 9 is a Wednesday. Apple’s keynotes are virtually at all times on a Monday or Tuesday however not routinely on the day of, or the day after, Labor Day, which falls on Monday, Sept. 7. Therefore my conviction that the keynote can be Wednesday, Sept. 9.
It will likely be held in Apple Park and broadcast world wide from 10 a.m. Pacific, I imagine.
Apple iPhone 18 Professional Launch Schedule: iOS 27 Normal Launch
For the final two years, this has been on the Monday after the keynote. Meaning Monday, Sept. 14. It permits customers of iPhone 11 via to iPhone 17 sequence to obtain the brand new software program earlier than the following iPhones go on sale. Which can be (drum roll, please) …
Apple iPhone 18 Professional Launch Schedule: Onsale Date
Friday, Sept. 18, I predict. I promised you timings to the minute: Apple Shops open world wide early on iPhone day. Except there’s a monumental change, 7 a.m. native can be when consumers can accumulate their pre-ordered iPhones instore.
As at all times, native time is vital right here: consumers in Sydney, Australia will be capable of choose up the iPhone 18 Professional a full 17 hours earlier than prospects in Los Angeles, as an example.
The iPhone 18 Professional and iPhone 18 Professional Max will go on sale on this date, although there’s nonetheless a query mark concerning the iPhone Extremely. It’s a complete new product class, a foldable cellphone, and there could also be manufacturing points which is able to maintain it again for per week or two. That may turn out to be clearer within the coming weeks.