Apple’s iOS 11 release date for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is starting to narrow as we get closer to September and the launch of the company’s new iPhones.
iPhone 8 rumors consistently point to a launch in September, and Apple’s official date surfaced before an official announcement.
By Wall Street JournalApple will host its annual fall iPhone launch event on September 12. This is the same date that came out last week, and the same date we’ve heard from our own sources. Now we have to wait for Apple to send invitations confirming the event.
Apple will likely use the event to announce a number of new products and release dates. The company is expected to launch the final version of the iPhone 8, iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus, Apple Watch 3, a new Apple TV and HomePod speaker. It is also expected to outline the final versions of watchOS 4, tvOS 11, macOS High Sierra, and iOS 11.
The company often uses media events to confirm specific software release dates, and we expect to have release dates for all four operating systems on September 12.
Now that we have the (all but) official iOS 11 launch date, we can narrow down the elusive iOS 11 release date for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Last year, iOS 10 arrived on Wednesday, September 13, a few days after the company’s September 7 event for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released on September 16.
A year ago, Apple approved the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iOS 9 on September 9. The company released iOS 9 on September 16 and iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus on September 25.
If Apple follows the standard release protocol, we could see the iOS 11 release date arrive shortly after the iPhone 8 launch event or around the week of September 18:
The iOS 11 update continues to make progress behind the scenes as Apple and beta testers investigate it for bugs. The company is expected to release at least one more beta, iOS 11 Gold Master, before the official release.
iOS 11 GM will mirror the official release and will likely arrive just days before Apple releases the iOS 11 update for devices around the world. iOS 10 GM was released on September 7 for developers and September 8 for those testing software through the Beta Software Program.
Apple’s new operating system will offer new features, improvements, and tweaks to select iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users, including updates to Siri, screen recording capability, improvements to Apple Pay, and some key changes for the company’s iPad fleet.
While popular devices like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 6 will migrate to iOS 11, others like the iPhone 5 and iPad 4 will remain on iOS 10.
