June 28 update: This post, first published on Saturday, June 27, was updated to include more details of the exact (predicted) schedule that will lead up to the release of this year’s flagship iPhones.
Nothing is certain until it’s confirmed, but this week saw a new clue as to when the iPhone 18 Pro will be released to the public. The release of the second developer beta of iOS 27 — the software that will power the new phones — was bang-on-time. This means the expected timetable is clearer than before. Here’s the refined schedule of how the software releases will define the hardware that goes with them, right down to the minute, so you can mark your calendar, or even set your alarm!
By the way, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, I’m expecting the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first folding phone, possibly called the iPhone Ultra. Oh, and there’ll be two new Apple Watches, I predict, and perhaps more, all announced on the same day, though, as we’ll see below, it’s possible not all will be put on sale simultaneously.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Schedule: iOS 27 Developer Betas
The second developer beta of iOS 27 landed on Monday, June 22, 2026. That’s important because it shows that things are going according to plan. Remember that this is a big year for Apple: the long-delayed new Siri is promised for the launch of iOS 27 and the new release means so far, so good.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Schedule: iOS 27 Public Betas
Next, expect the third developer beta on or around July 6. Then the first public beta. That was late last year, launching just after the fourth developer beta (they were on July 22 for the dev beta and July 24 for the public beta).
I believe this year there will be a return to the schedule of previous years, that is, the first public beta will come a few days after July 6 — though this could change.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Schedule: iOS 27 Release Candidate
It’s likely there will be eight or nine developer betas and six public betas, if previous years are mimicked.
Then, on or around Sept. 9, we should see the Release Candidate of both developer and public beta.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Schedule: September Keynote
This is the most important date in the release calendar. Unless there is a change so uncharacteristic that might lead to questions like, “Is this really Apple?” the date of the keynote fixes the rest of the schedule rigidly. That’s because the latest iPhone has, for more than ten years, gone on sale on the Friday in the week after the keynote. I am sure that routine will be followed this year.
This year’s keynote, I believe, will fall on the same calendar date as the last two years, that is, Sept. 9, the same date as the iOS 27 Release Candidate. This year, Sept. 9 is a Wednesday. Apple’s keynotes are almost always on a Monday or Tuesday but not routinely on the day of, or the day after, Labor Day, which falls on Monday, Sept. 7. Hence my conviction that the keynote will be Wednesday, Sept. 9.
It will be held in Apple Park and broadcast around the world from 10 a.m. Pacific, I believe.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Schedule: iOS 27 General Release
For the last two years, this has been on the Monday after the keynote. That means Monday, Sept. 14. It allows users of iPhone 11 through to iPhone 17 series to download the new software before the next iPhones go on sale. Which will be (drum roll, please) …
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Schedule: Onsale Date
Friday, Sept. 18, I predict. I promised you timings to the minute: Apple Stores open around the world early on iPhone day. Unless there’s a monumental change, 7 a.m. local will be when buyers can collect their pre-ordered iPhones instore.
As always, local time is key here: buyers in Sydney, Australia will be able to pick up the iPhone 18 Pro a full 17 hours before customers in Los Angeles, for instance.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will go on sale on this date, though there’s still a question mark about the iPhone Ultra. It’s a whole new product category, a foldable phone, and there may be manufacturing issues which will hold it back for a week or two. That will become clearer in the coming weeks.
