iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro release date could be sooner than expected

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The next iPhone could be closer than we think.

An iPhone 15 Pro Max against an abstract multi-colored retro background.
(Image credit: Gerald Lynch / Future / Apple)

Since the iPhone 5 in 2012, and with very few exceptions, there’s been a new iPhone every September. The launch tends to land in the middle of the month, presented during a typically slick iPhone presentation event. If you’re looking to shop ahead, however, one recent rumor suggests the next batch of iPhones will be released earlier in the month than usual. 

As reported by CNMO, the next best iPhone is set to release on September 10, just over one month away from time of writing. Generally, we hear news of the iPhone event around this time in September each year, with the iPhone itself launching a week or two later. If this rumor turns out to be true, we can expect to see the iPhone 16 in shops by Friday, September 19, going off previous iPhone launch dates.

Here is when previous iPhones launched:

  • iPhone 15 — September 22, 2023 (announced on September 12)
  • iPhone 14 — September 16, 2022 (announced on September 7) 
  • iPhone 13 — September 24, 2021 (announced on September 14)
  • iPhone 12 — October 23, 2020 (announced on October 13)
  • iPhone 11 — September 20, 2019 (announced on September 10)

How reputable is this report? 

CNMO doesn’t have a huge track record of accurate reports and leaks so far and the report itself doesn’t cite a source or really explain where the current news comes from. For this reason, we recommend a huge pinch of salt when looking at rumors like this. 

However, the date given is a Tuesday, which is the date we tend to expect the iPhone release every year. 

The iPhone 16 is currently said to have fairly minor physical upgrades, with the iPhone 16 Pro model getting a new dedicated camera button. However, the new chip range should prepare the device for Apple Intelligence, which should launch later this year. 

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James Bentley
James Bentley

James is a staff writer and general Jack of all trades at iMore. With news, features, reviews, and guides under his belt, he has always liked Apple for its unique branding and distinctive style. Originally buying a Macbook for music and video production, he has since gone on to join the Apple ecosystem with as many devices as he can fit on his person. 

With a degree in Law and Media and being a little too young to move onto the next step of his law career, James started writing from his bedroom about games, movies, tech, and anything else he could think of. Within months, this turned into a fully-fledged career as a freelance journalist. Before joining iMore, he was a staff writer at Gfinity and saw himself published at sites like TechRadar, NME, and Eurogamer. 

As his extensive portfolio implies, James was predominantly a games journalist before joining iMore and brings with him a unique perspective on Apple itself. When not working, he is trying to catch up with the movies and albums of the year, as well as finally finishing the Yakuza series. If you like Midwest emo music or pretentious indie games that will make you cry, he’ll talk your ear off.