iPhone 16 Release: Apple Confirms Special Event, On A Surprise New Date
Updated August 26: Apple Keynote Date Confirmed
The iPhone 16 Release release is imminent, and Apple has officially confirmed the event’s date and time. Interestingly, the date is not what most had predicted. Apple has just sent out invitations for the keynote event, which is expected to showcase the iPhone 16 series along with new Apple Watch models and AirPods. The event is set for Monday, September 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. As is typical, the invitation doesn’t reveal much, but let’s delve into what we know so far.
The Unexpected Date
Many had anticipated the event to occur on Tuesday, September 10. However, I’ve been leaning towards September 9 for a while, despite the prevailing consensus.
Apple has traditionally not launched an iPhone on a Monday— even the first iPhone, introduced on January 9, 2007, was revealed on a Tuesday. This year, though, felt different, partly because Apple seemed eager to launch its products as early as possible, including reintroducing Apple Intelligence.
Additionally, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple retail store staff meetings, usually held the Sunday after a product launch, were instead scheduled for Thursday, September 12, or Friday, September 13. This indicated that Apple might be moving up its timeline.
Another factor is the first televised debate between Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Apple likely wants to avoid competing with such a significant event, making a Monday keynote a strategic choice. This shift also aligns with Apple’s tendency to avoid predictability.
Despite the date change, other key dates are likely to remain the same: pre-orders are expected to begin on Friday, September 13, with the iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods arriving in stores and customers’ hands by Friday, September 20.
The Invitation
As with previous invitations, there isn’t much information beyond the date and time. The location is as expected, and invitations are non-transferable—standard procedure.
The invitation also includes the phrase “It’s Glowtime” alongside a swirling Apple logo. While colors often play a role in hints about new devices, the variety of colors here makes it difficult to determine the exact hues of the new iPhones. The “glow” might refer to the enhanced capabilities that Apple Intelligence will bring. For now, that’s all we can infer.
Earlier Predictions
I’ve previously predicted that the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max would go on sale on Friday, September 20. Initially, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple’s major product launch would occur on September 10, unveiling new iPhones, watches, and AirPods. However, he later suggested that the September 10 date might not be final.
Concerns about the keynote conflicting with the Presidential debate led me to speculate whether Apple might reschedule. Since Apple has consistently avoided September 11, the remaining possible dates are Monday, September 9, or Thursday, September 12.
Typically, Apple reserves Monday keynotes for WWDC in June, but the debate might cause an exception this year.
Gurman also mentioned an unusual, mandatory meeting for Apple retail employees on September 12 or 13. This timing makes a Thursday keynote seem too close, which strengthens the case for a Monday, September 9, event.
While Gurman’s sources point to a Tuesday, September 10, keynote, the upcoming Presidential debate suggests Monday, September 9, as a strong alternative. If this is accurate, pre-orders will likely start on Friday, September 13, with the official release on Friday, September 20.
