Apple officially unveiled iOS 18 during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, and since then, multiple beta versions have been made available to developers and early testers. These beta releases have introduced an array of new features, such as Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, customizable home and lock screens, and various enhancements aimed at improving the overall user experience. While these features are currently accessible to a select group of users, the full release of iOS 18 to the general public is anticipated to occur this fall. However, Apple has not provided a specific release date, leaving many to speculate about the timing.
To make an educated guess about the release date, we can look at Apple’s historical patterns regarding iOS updates. The company has a well-established track record of releasing new iOS versions shortly after its September event. For instance, in 2023, iOS 17 was launched just six days after Apple’s September 12 event. This pattern suggests that iOS 18 is likely to be released within a similar timeframe, which would place its launch between September 14 and September 16 this year. Given that Apple typically follows a predictable schedule, it is reasonable to expect that iOS 18 might be made available a few days after the September event.
Apple’s historical release patterns further support this prediction. Over the past decade, the company has consistently held events in June and September, with the September events often serving as a prelude to the release of the next iOS version. After most September events, Apple has released the new iOS version within a week. For example, in 2014, iOS 8 was released eight days after the September 9 event, and in 2022, iOS 16 was released just five days after the September 7 event. This trend indicates that iOS 18 will likely follow a similar schedule.
In terms of the specific day of the week, Apple has predominantly released iOS updates on weekdays. Notably, the company has never released an iOS update on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Instead, Mondays and Wednesdays are the most common days for these releases, with four updates occurring on Mondays and three on Wednesdays over the past decade. Given this trend, it is plausible that iOS 18 could be released on Monday, September 16, aligning with the pattern observed in recent years.
