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Apple’s most popular phone right now is the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but that won’t last much longer. Next month we’re expecting the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, alongside the cheaper iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
Apple hasn’t yet confirmed, let alone announced, the exact date of the launch, but based on leaks and the company’s usual patterns, we can make an educated guess – not just as to the day, but also the time.
Below, you’ll find our estimate for when the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will hit the market, our reasoning behind them, and when we think the phones will be available for pre-order and eventually ship.
When will the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max be announced?
- Expected announcement date: September 10th
- Expected announcement time: 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, or 3am AEST on September 11
It’s not hard to guess in which month we’ll see the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, as with a few exceptions, Apple always announces its new flagship phones in September.
When that tradition is broken, there is usually a good reason for it. For example, a pandemic or an important software feature that is not ready on time.
But a report in May suggested that iPhone 16 production was on schedule , so there’s not much reason to think there could be a delay. The only minor thing to note is that Apple Intelligence has been delayed until iOS 18.1, which is likely to launch in October. But according to Mark Gurman — who has a great track record when it comes to iPhone intel — Apple won’t be delaying the launch of the iPhone 16 line because of this.
Gurman is even more specific, saying he’s heard the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will launch around the same time as the previous models, with September 10 being the most likely date.
For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro series was released on September 12 last year, but this year September 12 falls on a Thursday. Apple typically announces its new phones on a Tuesday, so September 10 (a Tuesday) is a likely candidate.
There’s also a chance we could see the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max on Tuesday, September 3, Wednesday, September 4, or Wednesday, September 11. Wednesdays are occasionally thrown around, but the company almost always sticks to the first two weeks of September.
But given Gurman’s track record, we think September 10 is the most likely date.
As for when the launch event will begin, based on previous reports, it will likely start at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST. For folks in Australia, that’s 3am AEST on September 11.
When do iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders open?
- Expected pre-order date: the 13th of September
Here too, we can follow Apple’s typical patterns, as the company almost always opens pre-orders for new phones on the Friday of the week they’re announced.
So if they’re announced on September 10th, as we predict, or September 11th, which is also a possibility, then pre-orders will likely open on Friday, September 13th.
In the slightly more unlikely, but still very likely, event that the phones are announced on September 3 or 4, you’ll likely be able to pre-order the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max as early as Friday, September 6.
When will the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max ship?
- Expected shipping date: September 20
The date you’ll receive your pre-ordered iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max is also predictable, typically a week after pre-orders open.
So if pre-orders open on September 13th (as we predict), then the phones will likely ship on Friday, September 20th. That’s our best guess, but it’s also possible they could ship on September 13th if they go up for pre-order on September 6th.
There’s a small chance that Apple will deviate from its usual pre-order or release date patterns, but there’s currently no reason to believe that will happen this year.
