July 12 update: this post, originally published on July 10, was updated with further details of the exact release schedule.
When will the iPhone 18 Pro go on sale? Well, Apple’s meticulous planning means previous years can give us clues as to what will happen when. Read on for a complete rundown, based on the very latest events.
iPhone 18 Pro: How iOS 27 Betas On Schedule
The software that will power the iPhone 18 Pro — and all iPhones right back to the iPhone 11 series — is currently in developer beta. So far, this seems to be slap-bang on schedule, with the third beta released in the last few days, on Monday, July 6. That exactly tallies with the timings for betas in previous years, so it looks like Apple’s beta software release is going smoothly.
The week ahead will confirm this, as it should mean that next week, that is the week commencing Monday, July 13, will see the next milestone: the release of the first public beta.
Last year, the public beta was late, which could have thrown a spanner in the works. Perhaps because of the complexity of the new Liquid Glass design that iOS 26 introduced, Apple held back the first public beta until the fourth developer beta was out.
Reports this year, including from commentators like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, suggest things are going swimmingly so far.
If so, expect the public beta on Monday, July 13 or Tuesday, July 14. Assuming that happens, as I think it will, that means the next big event of the schedule will be the special event when Apple announces the iPhones.
iPhone 18 Pro: Apple’s September Special Event
Here’s where I disagree with Mark Gurman. He recently claimed that the September keynote, where all will be revealed from the hardware to the pricing to the release date, will be on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with Wednesday, Sept. 9 a possible backup.
I am convinced that Sept. 8 is wrong. It’s the day after Labor Day and Apple doesn’t hold its keynotes the day after a public holiday.
I believe Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific will be the day, date and time for the event and is the number one focus, not a backup.
At the event, expect the newly inaugurated CEO John Ternus to announce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable, possibly called the iPhone Ultra (not to mention two Apple Watches and maybe a surprise new product).
iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders Open
The keynote will confirm more than just the products on their way and assuming Wednesday, Sept. 9 is correct then the other dates will flow like clockwork.
The keynote will reveal the date that pre-orders will open, for a start. This is almost certainly going to be on Friday, Sept. 11. If last year’s timetable is matched, that will mean an early morning for would-be buyers in California, for instance, who want to be front of the line, as pre-orders will likely go live at 5 a.m. Pacific. That’s 8 a.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. U.K.
iPhone 18 Pro: iOS 27 General Release
Next up, the software which is flowing so smoothly right now will be the next event in the calendar when it goes on general release. The exact date could move but is likely to be Monday, Sept. 14 at roughly 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. U.K.
It’s possible it could be a day later, at the same time on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
iPhone 18 Pro: Predicted Onsale Date
All along, I’ve predicted one date for the next iPhones to reach stores and, so far, I’ve no reason to change this. I believe the iPhone 18 Pro and other phones will go on sale on Friday, Sept. 18.