Earlier this year Apple confirmed its next iPhones will arrive a few weeks later than usual, but as we hit September, there's still a larger question as to when exactly that will be.
In previous years, Apple had typically already provided a date for its new iPhone reveal by September, but 2020 certainly isn't a normal year. We've got very few hard facts as to when Apple will unveil its next set of devices, but there are certainly rumours.
Right now there are two popular theories for when Apple could reveal the iPhone 12.
The first is September 10, which would likely be September 11 locally. A Twitter user managed to snap a screenshot of what appeared to be an event scheduled for September 10 on Apple's YouTube account. September 10 is however also the same day Apple had its iPhone event last year, and as such, potentially just a placeholder. September 10 is also a Thursday in the US, which is unusual for Apple events. They tend to either take place on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
An early September event would also result in a large lead time between the iPhone 12 being announced and the iPhone 12 going on sale, given the delay of a "few weeks". Apple normally has at least one iPhone available for pre-order the same week it is announced. All three 2019 iPhone models were available shortly after they were announced last year, but this hasn't always been the case. In 2018, iPhone XS pre-orders started in the same week, while the iPhone XR wasn't available until the end of October. Similar happened in 2017 with the iPhone X; it was announced in September, but didn't hit shelves until the start of November.
The other popular theory is mid-to-late October. This would mean Apple could announce the iPhone 12 and start taking pre-orders the same week, as is tradition. Leaker Jon Prosser has claimed that Apple will reveal the iPhone 12 in the week starting October 12, with pre-orders taking place shortly after. He claims that iPhone 12 Pro devices won't be available until November, however. Japanese Apple rumours website Mac Otakara also believes Apple will hold its event in October.
There is some variance between the two. Prosser says Apple will decouple its Apple Watch Series 6 announcement from its iPhone event and simply reveal the new wearable in September, while Mac Otakara says Apple will also delay the Watch until October.
Of course, since Apple's iPhone reveal presentation will almost certainly take the form of a pre-recorded digital event - as with its WWDC keynote earlier this year - the manufacturer has a lot of flexibility. Since there will be no physical audience, Apple could easily move the presentation on a whim.
Apple is expected to drop four new iPhones this year: the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Max, and the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. All are expected to sport 5G and a brand new design reminiscent of the latest iPad Pro. The iPhone 12 is potentially the most interesting device out of the four, rumoured to be a much smaller handset with a 5.4-inch display. This would make it smaller than the iPhone 8, but a little larger than the iPhone 5. It's unclear if all four will be available at once.
Read more about what we're expecting from iPhone 12 here or sign-up to our weekly newsletter to keep up to date with everything Apple.
Alex Choros
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