Apple iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Release Date Schedule: Your Complete Countdown

Every fall, Apple unveils a new set of iPhones to an eager world. Even 16 years after the first iPhone was revealed in 2007, no gadget release generates comparable excitement.

This year’s release is less than a month away, and before that, there’s the Apple Special Event when the phones are revealed. First, though, there’s the moment when Apple sends out invites to press and guests, detailing when and where the event will be. And that could be just a couple of days away.

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Want to be fully informed of what’s coming, and when, so there are no surprises? Here’s a comprehensive guide, even before Apple says a word. Of course, this post will be updated as soon as anything official happens (and you can see how right or wrong I was).

1. Apple Sends Out Official Invites To The Special Event

This is the starting gun. It will confirm that the event is taking place, with an attractive image and gnomic wording, inviting smart or even outlandish interpretation. Hint: the colors used are very often clues to the shades the iPhones will feature. There’ll also be an enjoyable augmented reality animation.

It could be any day now. It’s always at least a week before the special event itself which, from the timeline below, means the latest will be Tuesday, September 5. However, it seems that Apple also likes to send a frisson through the air in Berlin, host to the massive tech show, IFA, which runs from Friday, September 1 to Tuesday, September 5. The earlier the announcement, the bigger the impact. Apple never sends out invites on a Friday or a holiday (Monday, September 4 is Labor Day), so that points to Thursday, August 31. This is a strong contender, but I think it’s wrong.

Apple’s event this year is a week later than it was last year, so I think Apple wants to get our anticipatory juices going as soon as possible.

Verdict

Tuesday, August 29 or Wednesday, August 30, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific.

2. The Apple Special Event

As soon as the invites are sent, we’ll know the details for the special event itself. It’s always in Cupertino, at the Steve Jobs Theater since that’s been built, and always at 10 a.m. local time. Other special events happen in different cities, but Cupertino is iPhone Town.

It had been thought that Wednesday, September 6 was on the cards, but that simply isn’t happening. It would have been Apple’s preference, I’m sure, but all reports say that the production line is geared up for later in the month, so the event is that bit later, too.

Apple almost always chooses a Tuesday if it can, avoiding it only if it’s the day after a public holiday, if it falls on September 11 or if, you know, there’s Covid gumming up the wheels.

Verdict

Tuesday, September 12 at 10 a.m. Pacific at Steve Jobs Theater, Apple Park, with simultaneous broadcast.

3. Pre-Orders Begin

This one is pretty regular and therefore guessable, assuming all other details are right. It usually falls on the Friday one week before onsale date.

Verdict

Friday, September 15—time tbc.

4. Apple releases iOS 17, iPadOS 17

This is a quietly important step. It means anyone who has a compatible iPhone or iPad can download the software, even without the need to invest in the iPhone 15 series hardware. It often happens in the same week as the keynote. Last year, the iPad software came later, in October, but that may not be the case this year. Mac software has its own release date.

Verdict

Monday, September 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific, though it could be sooner.

5. iPhone Reviews Appear

This will be early in the week, on a separate day from Apple Watch reviews. Select press will be seeded the iPhones from soon after the special event, and reviews usually appear from 9 a.m. Eastern/6 a.m. Pacific, though this timing can change.

Verdict

Tuesday, September 19 at 6 a.m. Pacific.

6. Apple iPhone 15, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Go On Sale

Without fail, Apple releases its iPhones, or at least some of the new range, on the Friday in the week after the keynote. The caveat here is that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be delayed, because of rumored production issues. However, I believe that unless this delay is three weeks or more, Apple will announce at the same time, but with a deferred pre-order and shipping date.

Verdict

Friday, September 22.

7. iPhone 16 Rumors Begin In Earnest

Saturday, September 23. Okay, I’m joking, but only sort of.

Please check back—I’ll update this post to confirm (or correct) as everything is revealed.