After fervent months of speculation, leaks and reports, Apple has announced its iPhones for 2024. It means that the schedule of what happens when has been confirmed—more or less. Here’s what happens now in the run-up to the iPhones going on sale, so you don’t miss a thing, with full details of what’s been confirmed and what’s still only predicted.
Apple iPhone 16 series.
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro: When Pre-Orders Begin (Confirmed)
Pre-orders will open on Friday, September 13. The possible superstitious response to Friday the 13thhasn’t put Apple off.
Pre-orders will begin at 5 a.m. Pacific, 8 a.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. U.K. Last year, Apple let you get ahead of the line the night before. You were able to log on to apple.com, choose the device you fancy, with the right color and storage, on the day before and put it in the online basket. That way, you were ready to press the buy button the moment pre-orders were activated.
There’s no news yet whether such a situation will come into play this year, but I’ll report back if that changes.
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro: Launch Of iOS 18 (Confirmed)
Apple has now said that the software which will run on the new iPhones and indeed every iPhone from the iPhone Xr onwards, will be released on Monday, Sept. 16. No time has been specified, but it’s regularly 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. U.K.
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro: Release Date (Confirmed)
Friday, Sept. 20 is the date the iPhones will go onsale, alongside the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2 in black colorway, AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and AirPods Max in new colors.
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro: Release Time (To Be Confirmed)
The exact time has yet to be established but it’s usually around 8 a.m. local time. This means it goes on sale in Australia and New Zealand first, because of the time zones.
That’s when you can go to your Apple Store to buy, or collect what you’ve ordered online, or wait excitedly at home if you’ve arranged for home delivery.