When will the iPhone 18 Pro go on sale? Well, Apple’s careful planning means that previous years may give us clues as to what will happen and when. Continue reading for the full rundown based on the most recent developments.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: The next iPhone is on the way.
VCG via Getty Images
Update July 13: This post, originally published July 10, has been updated with additional information on the exact release schedule, including Apple’s first foldable smartphone.
iPhone 18 Pro: iOS 27 beta is on schedule
The software, which will run on the iPhone 18 Pro—and all iPhones up to the iPhone 11 series—is currently in beta testing for developers. So far, it seems to be on schedule, with the third beta released in the last few days, on Monday, July 6th. This is exactly in line with the timing of beta releases in previous years, so it looks like Apple’s beta software releases are going smoothly.
The coming week will confirm this, as it should mean that next week, which is the week starting Monday, July 13th, will see the next milestone: the release of the first public beta.
Last year, the public beta was delayed, which could have jeopardized work. Perhaps due to the complexity of the new Liquid Glass design introduced in iOS 26, Apple delayed the release of the first public beta until the fourth developer beta.
Reports this year, including from commentators such as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, suggest that things are going smoothly so far.
If so, expect a public beta on Monday, July 13th or Tuesday, July 14th. Assuming this happens, which I think it will, that means the next big thing on the schedule will be a special event where Apple announces the iPhone.
iPhone 18 Pro: Apple’s September special event
This is where I disagree with Mark Gurman. He recently stated that the September keynote, which will reveal everything from hardware to pricing and release date, will take place on Tuesday, September 8, with Wednesday, September 9 possibly being a backup.
I am convinced that September 8 is wrong. It’s the day after Labor Day, and Apple doesn’t hold any shows the day after the national holiday.
I believe that Wednesday, September 9th at 10am PT will be the day, date and time of the event and will be the number one priority and not a backup.
At the event, newly inaugurated CEO John Ternus is expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first foldable device, possibly called the iPhone Ultra (not to mention two Apple Watches and perhaps a new surprise product).
iPhone 18 Pro: pre-orders open
The keynote will confirm more than just the products on the way, and assuming Wednesday, September 9th is correct, the rest of the dates will go by like clockwork.
To begin with, the keynote will indicate the opening date for pre-orders. This will almost certainly happen on Friday, September 11th. If last year’s schedule matches last year’s schedule, it will mean an early morning for potential buyers in California, for example, who want to be at the front of the line, as pre-orders will likely go live at 5 a.m. PT. It’s 8am ET, 1pm UK.
If you buy first, you can be sure that you will not only get the model you want, but also the capacity and color.
iPhone 18 Pro: iOS 27 general release
Next, the software that runs so smoothly now will be the next event on the calendar when it goes into general release. The exact date may change, but it will most likely be Monday, September 14th at approximately 10:00 AM PT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM UK.
This may happen a day later, at the same time on Tuesday, September 15th.
iPhone 18 Pro: Release Week Events
Following the software update, the next event on Apple’s (unannounced) calendar will be the release of reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. They will almost certainly appear on Tuesday 15 September, likely between 6am PT, 9am ET and 2pm UK.
Since the keynote will likely take place on Wednesday rather than the usual Monday or Tuesday, it is possible that reviews will appear later, perhaps on Wednesday, September 16th, at the same time to give reviewers a little more time for new products.
Foldable iPhone
While it still seems likely that the first foldable iPhone, possibly called the iPhone Ultra, will be unveiled at the keynote on Wednesday, September 9, that doesn’t guarantee the folder will be available right away. Historically, new product categories like the iPhone X, announced at the same time as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, have been a bit held back. In the case of the iPhone X, the delay was until November.
It remains to be seen whether the foldable phone will go on sale immediately or not. There have been many reports that this will not happen, and many more that it will.
If Apple announces the Ultra later, reviews will also appear later, likely two or three days before the on-sale date, which we’ll learn from the keynote.
iPhone 18 Pro: predicted release date
All this time I have predicted one date for when the next iPhones will go on sale, and so far I have no reason to change that date. I believe the iPhone 18 Pro and other phones will go on sale on Friday, September 18th.