Updated August 25 with new reporting from Mark Gurman.
It’s no secret that the iPhone 16 series is coming soon. But when exactly? The date everyone is waiting for is that of the keynote, Apple’s special event where the company holds court at the Steve Jobs Theater, part of its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California. And the latest report seems to confirm the date. Or not? I have questions.
The iPhone 15 will soon be replaced by the iPhone 16. But when exactly?
I’ve already written that I believe the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will go on sale on Friday, September 20. “Apple Inc. is planning its biggest product launch event of the year for Sept. 10, when the company will unveil the latest iPhones, watches and AirPods, according to people familiar with the situation,” says Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
That seems likely, but I think other dates are still in play. And Gurman has since posted comments on X that make me think September 10 is not set in stone. Alarm bells went off for me when I realized there would be a clash with the first televised presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Frankly, that’s going to dominate the news cycle all day and into the next day. Could Apple want to move the date? And if so, to when?
Since September 11th is a date that Apple has always avoided, there are two other possible days this week: Monday, September 9th and Thursday, September 12th.
Apple reserves Monday keynotes for only one time of year, WWDC in June. Could the debate mean it’s making an exception this year?
As for Thursday, Gurman just said on X: “Apple has scheduled an unusual and mandatory meeting for employees at all Apple retail stores on the evening of September 12 or the morning of September 13. This would be before the iPhone 16 release a week later – but pre-launch meetings are usually held on Sundays, not during the week.”
In my opinion, September 12th seems too short for the keynote. Since Apple is bringing forward the employee meeting, I even think it’s possible that the keynote will be brought forward as well. I’m inclined to say Monday, September 9th is quite possible – although I realize that I’m alone here.
Gurman continues: “Although the timing has not been announced, the company is preparing for that date, which falls on a Tuesday, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are confidential. The unveiling will be followed by the phones going on sale on Sept. 20, in line with Apple’s typical approach in recent years.”
I’ll just add that in speaking to Apple over the years, I’ve heard that the company hates being predictable. Multiple reports suggest that Apple is right on schedule or even ahead of schedule with iPhone production, which also suggests that it could potentially launch earlier this year.
And I keep coming back to the big televised presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday, September 10th, and how Apple might want to avoid any overlap with that debate.
I don’t think the previous Tuesday, September 3rd, is a possibility, but I wouldn’t rule out Monday, September 9th. Could that mean a Friday, September 13th sales launch? That might be wishful thinking on my part.
My best guess: Gurman could be spot on and the keynote will take place on Tuesday, September 10 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, but Monday, September 9 is a possibility. The presidential debate will likely influence Apple’s decisions. Either way, preorders will likely open on Friday, September 13, and iPhones will be in customers’ hands on Friday, September 20.
More as soon as we have it.
