Apple employees (wearing green clothing) cheer as they welcome customers at the opening of Apple’s first ever store. … (+)
AFP via Getty Images
We know when Apple will launch the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, but when will Tim Cook and his team get the new phones into the hands of their loyal fans? With the opening of a new Apple Store in Sweden, Apple has all but confirmed the launch date for its new AI-powered smartphones.
The iPhone launch will take place during next week’s Glowtime event, which will also coincide with the public unveiling of Apple’s highly anticipated AI-generated software suite — and it’s garnering attention from the community.
While Apple has announced the date and time of its Glowtime event, and therefore the launch of its iPhone 16 family, there’s still no word on when the devices will be available to the public. Pre-orders will likely begin once the Glowtime event is over, but there’s no indication of when the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro will be available to the public.
Tim Cook’s Apple is a company of habits, and the second week of September has been the iPhone launch date for as long as the internet can remember. This year, however, Cook moved the launch date up 24 hours from the traditional Tuesday to a more radical Monday. Given that presidential debates have traditionally been scheduled for Tuesdays, it’s likely that Apple chose to win the news cycle on Monday rather than contend with reactions to the candidates.
Previously, Apple’s schedule saw iPhone announcements on a Tuesday, pre-orders opening on the following Friday, and the devices being delivered or available for pick-up in stores the following Friday.
Perhaps Apple will move the preorder and sale date back to Thursday, but Friday is likely to remain the day.
So, back to the new Apple Store in Stockholm, which is set to open on Friday, September 20th. As there are no other Apple Stores in the Swedish capital, the new Apple Mall of Scandinavia will be the only place where you can pick up your new iPhone in-store. It’s unlikely that Apple will want to delay Swedes walking out of the new Apple Store with their new iPhones 24 hours after the rest of the world has had the same opportunity.
So it will be Friday, September 20th.
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