Apple introduced iOS 26 at its Worldwide Builders Convention in June, and the tech large has since launched a number of beta variations of the software program. These variations deliver new options, like a Liquid Glass design and name screening to dam spam callers, to the iPhones of builders and beta testers. You’ll be able to anticipate a lot of these capabilities to land in your iPhone quickly.
Apple mentioned it can launch the replace to most of the people this fall, which is nice however not probably the most useful timeframe. But when we take a look at previous Apple occasions in September and earlier iOS releases, a sample emerges. Apple often releases iOS variations a couple of days after the corporate’s September occasion and we should always anticipate that to carry this yr.
Apple is traditionally tight-lipped about new merchandise and releases however I used to be proper about iOS 18’s launch in 2024 and iOS 17’s launch in 2023, so let’s examine if I can hold this streak going. This is after I assume the tech firm will launch iOS 26 — I do not assume we do not have for much longer to attend.
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When is Apple’s September occasion?
iOS 26 will introduce a brand new Liquid Glass design to your iPhone.
Apple will maintain its “Awe dropping” occasion on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the identical day I predicted the corporate would. Prior to now 10 years, Apple has solely held its September occasion between Sept. 7 and 14, often on Tuesday (six occasions), with a couple of Wednesdays (thrice) and one Monday.
We do not often have to attend lengthy after Apple’s September occasion for iOS updates to be launched.
Why will Apple launch iOS 26 shortly after the occasion?
Apple would not often announce the discharge of iOS variations, nevertheless it does stick near a script from yr to yr.
After most of Apple’s September occasions, the corporate releases the subsequent iOS inside every week. In 2024, for instance, Apple’s occasion was held on Sept. 9 and iOS 18 was launched seven days in a while Sept. 16. And in 2023 Apple’s occasion was held on Sept. 12 and it launched iOS 17 six days in a while Sept. 18.
There’s solely been one yr previously decade the place it took longer than every week for Apple to launch the subsequent iOS model — 2019. Even then, Apple nonetheless launched the subsequent iOS model 9 days after its September occasion.
The variety of days between Apple’s September occasion and the discharge of the subsequent iOS model has additionally trended — barely — downward previously decade. In 2015, Apple launched iOS 9 on Sept. 16, seven days after the corporate’s September occasion, and in 2022 Apple launched iOS 16 on Sept. 12, 5 days after the corporate’s Sept. 7 occasion.
In that very same timeframe, Apple launched six iOS variations inside every week of the occasion. So I am predicting Apple will launch iOS 26 six or seven days after its Sept. 9 occasion.
Apple has additionally launched the previous 4 iOS variations on the Monday following its September occasions. So this might be the brand new norm and Apple will launch all future iOS variations on the Monday after its September occasion. So it is almost definitely that Apple will launch iOS 26 on a Monday.
Nice, so what date will Apple launch iOS 26?
I predict Apple will launch iOS 26 on the Monday, Sept. 15, the week after its Sept. 9 occasion.
For extra on iOS 26, listed here are my first impressions of the beta, the way to allow name screening within the beta and all the brand new options Apple mentioned it can deliver to your gadget later this yr. You can even take a look at our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
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