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 may count on lots of these capabilities to land in your iPhone quickly.
Apple stated it can launch the replace to most of the people this fall, which is sweet 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 normally releases iOS variations a couple of days after the corporate’s September occasion and we should always count on that to carry this 12 months.
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 preserve this streak going. This is after I suppose the tech firm will launch iOS 26 — I do not suppose 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. Up to now 10 years, Apple has solely held its September occasion between Sept. 7 and 14, normally on Tuesday (six instances), with a couple of Wednesdays (thrice) and one Monday.
We do not normally 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 normally announce the discharge of iOS variations, however it does stick near a script from 12 months to 12 months.
After most of Apple’s September occasions, the corporate releases the following iOS inside per week. In 2024, for instance, Apple’s occasion was held on Sept. 9 and iOS 18 was launched seven days afterward Sept. 16. And in 2023 Apple’s occasion was held on Sept. 12 and it launched iOS 17 six days afterward Sept. 18.
There’s solely been one 12 months previously decade the place it took longer than per week for Apple to launch the following iOS model — 2019. Even then, Apple nonetheless launched the following iOS model 9 days after its September occasion.
The variety of days between Apple’s September occasion and the discharge of the following 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 per 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 could possibly be the brand new norm and Apple will launch all future iOS variations on the Monday after its September occasion. So it is most probably 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 best way to allow name screening within the beta and all of the new options Apple stated it can deliver to your gadget later this 12 months. You too can take a look at our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
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