While the rumor mill is already relatively unanimous about the features of the upcoming iPhone 16, a new debate has erupted about the launch date. Experience has shown that Apple prefers to hold an event for its iPhone announcements in the second week of September. For quite some time now, speculators seemed to agree that this would be the case in 2024. But there would be a good reason to deviate from that this year.
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The reason is rooted in American politics. With the agreement for a TV duel between Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump on September 10, Apple will have tough competition on its traditional Tuesday date. Apple will fear that the news will revolve mainly around this first meeting – the iPhone 16 will be a side note, at least in the USA.
A day later? Even harder.
The postponement of a day in the same week is also difficult: September 11, which is particularly symbolic for the United States, is in fact prohibited for a product presentation, even if, for example, MTV’s Video Music Awards made exactly this change from the 10th to the 11th of September. Apple usually avoids a Monday morning appointment California time outside the WWDC developer conference, as most international media representatives will have to arrive on Sunday.
There is still a week’s change: if the new iPhones are only available later, a postponement could have a significant impact on sales in the quarter. As a result, the focus is on a date in the first week of September. A keynote address would be possible on Tuesday, September 3. This will not be without ifs and buts even for the United States, as Labor Day is celebrated there on Monday and many Americans are on a long weekend – but it will be manageable compared to the strong media competition of the US presidential duel.
Does iOS 18.0 offer any hints?
Speculation of an early date has been fueled by statements by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. He indicated that the development of iOS 18.0 was already completed with the release of beta 7. The comparatively early completion is explained primarily by the fact that Apple will probably deliver most of the new functions only in the form of AI Apple Intelligence – a month later than with iOS 18.1, which is already in beta stage. But it may also be influenced by the fact that Apple now has to install the final software on iPhones at the factories of its contract manufacturers in China to achieve the prompt deadline.
Experience has shown that Apple’s invitation to media representatives, which usually takes place two weeks before the appointment, provides certainty about the date. With the appointment in early September, something had to happen this week – only in the corona period there was a very short period of one week between the invitation and the appointment. If nothing happens this week, Apple may tinker with its usual second week of September.
(MKI)
