Apple iPhone 17, Air And Pro Release Schedule: All New Details
Updated Aug. 30 with more details of what’s in the schedule leading up to the release date of the next iPhones.
In a matter of days, Apple will hold its next special event. Apple hasn’t said what it’s for but there are clues in the “Awe Dropping” invite. Here are all the new details emerging now about what’s coming and a complete guide to what will happen when — before Apple confirms stuff. I’ve noted what’s been confirmed and, for the rest that hasn’t, when it will be confirmed.
And it looks like this is the last year that Apple will release its iPhones in this format. More on that below. Let’s start with the invite Apple sent out for the keynote and what it tells us.
Apple iPhone 16 is about to be replaced by the iPhone 17 series.
AFP via Getty Images
Apple iPhone 17 Release Schedule: What Does The Invite Mean?
Reading the runes of the Apple special event invites is always interesting. One thing that’s a constant is the careful use of color. Very often, the colors are chosen to prepare us for what’s coming in terms of headline products like the iPhone.
This year, as you can see, blue and orange dominate. There have been surprising rumors that the iPhone 17 Pro will come in orange, so maybe we can tick that one off. The Pro could also have a dark blue shade and the light blue ties in with rumors about the slim iPhone on its way.
Awe dropping, obviously, suggests jaw-dropping, which some have said refers to the thinness and lightness of the iPhone 17 Air. Or it could just be Apple saying that all its new products are going to be amazing. Whatever, the details are very nearly ready to be revealed.
Apple iPhone 17 Release Schedule: The Keynote
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. Pacific CONFIRMED
Now that we know when the keynote will be, that’s the next big event in the calendar. There will be rumors and leaks before then, but it’s on the big day, Sept. 9, that we’ll find out everything about the new iPhones.
Until then, we think we’ll see four new iPhones: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and an all-new super-slim iPhone. We don’t know the name until Apple announces it, but the consensus is it could be called iPhone 17 Air. Which is a good name.
It’s possible that next year will be very different. As Alex Lee at The Independent points out, “This is also predicted to be the last year before Apple shifts its iPhone release strategy completely. According to The Information and reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, starting next year, Apple will no longer release every iPhone in September,” Lee says.
Instead, and this still surprises me, it’s reported that next fall we’ll see a different range of phones in 2026. “Apple will only be releasing the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Air and the all-new iPhone 18 Fold in September 2026. There won’t be a base iPhone 18 at all. Instead, it will be booted to the spring and unveiled alongside the iPhone 18e in 2027,” the same report suggests. Plenty of time to see if this rumor is correct.
Back to this year. Additionally, there’ll be two new Apple Watches: Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. Could there be a new Apple Watch SE? It’s not impossible but there’s little indication of that. Plus, it seems, it may be time for new AirPods, AirPods Pro 3 to be precise.
Apple iPhone 17 Release Schedule: Pre-Orders Open
Friday, Sept. 12, 5 a.m. Pacific TO BE CONFIRMED
Pre-orders will be confirmed at the keynote, and while the date seems certain, the timing could change. Last year, it was at 5 a.m. Pacific, that is 8 a.m. Eastern and 1 p.m. in the U.K.
A couple of years ago Apple added an extra wrinkle to the preorders procedure by allowing customers to log on the night before and choose the items they wanted, to place them in the shopping bag ready for Friday’s pre-orders going live. A simple way to be ready to go. I’ll report back if the same situation applies this time around.
Apple iPhone 17 Release Schedule: iOS 26 Release
Monday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. Pacific TO BE CONFIRMED
This is the software that will work with the iPhone 17 series and all iPhones right back to iPhone 11.
If you’re not planning to buy a new iPhone just yet, this is arguably the most important date in the schedule. Of course, not all the new features that iOS 26 promises will work with every phone all the way back to the iPhone 11 series: Apple Intelligence only works with iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 series, plus this year’s offerings.
Apple iPhone 17 Release Schedule: Reviews Appear
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 6 a.m. Pacific TO BE CONFIRMED
Wednesday, Sept. 17 is also a possibility. However, Tuesday seems the most likely and in that case it’s likely Apple Watch reviews will appear on the Wednesday.
Apple iPhone 17 Release Schedule: Onsale Date
Friday, Sept. 19, 7 a.m. local time TO BE CONFIRMED
This is when the iPhone will actually reach customers, in store and from pre-ordered online delivery.
Since this is a local time deal, it means that customers in countries like New Zealand and Australia will see their iPhones first, while customers in California have a little longer to wait (though not as long as those in Hawaii).