When will Apple release everything announced at WWDC? Any upcoming release date

Apple has announced many exciting operating system updates on the site WDC 2024 but did not reveal any exact release dates. There may also be some major Apple product launches on the horizon. Fortunately, Apple’s operating system updates and product releases follow a similar pattern each year. So we can get an idea of when we can expect everything announced at WWDC and some of the product rumors that will be in the pipeline at Cupertino’s Apple Park.

It’s already been an eventful year for Apple. In February, it launched the Vision Pro headset, and in May it released two new iPads, the M4 chip, Apple Pencil Pro and a redesigned Magic Keyboard. Thanks to WWDC, we’re already halfway through 2024, but Apple still has a lot to offer this year, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, Apple Intelligence, and possibly M4 Macs and iPhone 16.

Based on a detailed analysis of Apple’s product launch date history, below we’ll take a look at when Apple might make these new products and operating system updates available.

1. iOS 18

iOS 18 badge

(Image: Apple/Laptop Mag)

iOS 18 will likely be the first software update announced at WWDC. iPhone updates tend to guide each update cycle and often have more consistent OS update release dates than iPadOS or macOS. Apple released every iOS update since iOS 6 in 2012 between September 12 and 20. Monday and Wednesday are also overwhelmingly the most common days of the week for iOS updates to be released.

This iOS release date pattern means you can assume that Apple will release iOS 18 September 16 or 18. September 9, 23 and 25 are also possible dates, but are less likely because they are outside the typical September 12-20 window.

If you don’t want to wait until September, you can try it developer beta of iOS 18 now, but you’ll have to pay $99 for an Apple Developer account. Don’t worry though – you can also register your devices with Apple beta software to get the first public beta of iOS 18 for free. This program is also available for software updates for all other categories of Apple hardware.

2. iPadOS 18

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(Image: Apple/Laptop Mag)

Apple usually releases iPadOS updates alongside iOS updates, but those updates don’t always arrive on the same day. We don’t have much data on iPadOS either, as the iPad only got its own operating system in 2019. Previously, both iPads and iPhones ran iOS. However, Apple numbers iPadOS updates the same as iOS, so the first version of iPadOS was called iPadOS 13.

Apple released three of the last five iPadOS updates on the same day as iOS updates, and four of the five between September 16 and 24, most often on Monday. iPadOS 16 is an outlier, released on October 24, 2022 (over a month after iOS 16). So it is likely that Apple will release this version iPadOS 18 on the same day as iOS 18 September 16 or 18. The most likely date is September 16, because it is a Monday.

3. macOS 15

macOS 15 Sequoia badge

(Image: Apple/Laptop Mag)

Unlike iOS and iPadOS, Apple does not consistently release macOS on similar dates. The previous five versions were released in September, October and November. However, there are still a few patterns that give us clues about the potential release date of macOS 15.

For example, September is the most common month for releasing the first macOS updates, although Apple released the last three of the six versions in October. Regardless of the month, the 24th and 25th are typical release dates. Apple released the last four of six macOS updates on Mondays.

So the most likely release dates macOS 15 If September 23, 24 and 30 Or October 14, 21 and 25. October is especially likely if Apple plans to announce an M4 Mac lineup this month, as it did last year with the M3 Macs.

4. Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence does not have its own release date. Instead, Apple is releasing it as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15. So the Apple Intelligence release date is actually the iOS 18 release date September 16 or 18. However, you may be able to try this feature early in the developer and public beta versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15.

5. watchOS 11

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(Image: Apple/Laptop Mag)

Apple’s watchOS update release dates have been among the most consistent over the past nine years, since the first generation of Apple Watch debuted.

With the exception of watchOS 1, Apple has released all initial versions of watchOS so far in September, mostly in the second half of the month. The last three of the five versions of watchOS were launched on Mondays. Additionally, the release dates for the initial version of watchOS are always the same as the release dates for new versions of iOS from 2016 onwards (iOS 10/watchOS 3).

This means that Apple will likely release watchOS 11 on the same day as iOS 18, most likely on September 16 or 18with a slightly higher chance of September 16th since it’s a Monday.

6. visionOS 2

VisionOS is Apple’s most difficult software release date to predict since the launch of Vision Pro in February. We only have one software release date, which is February 2, 2024. Apple doesn’t typically release software updates in February, so it’s unlikely it will wait until then to release VisionOS 2, especially since it was already announced at WWDC 2024.

So, given this limited data, the most likely release dates for VisionOS 2 are September 16 or 18 next to iOS 18 or potentially another one beginning of February date for 2025 to coincide with this year’s version of Vision Pro.

7. M4 MacBooks

Photo showing the Apple M4 chip colorfully coming to life on the MacBook Pro control board

(Image source: future photo illustration)

The M4 Mac line this is most likely another Apple product. Since Apple’s silicon launch in 2020, the MacBook has consistently been at the forefront of new Mac models, so it’s safe to assume that Apple will start with the MacBook Pro M4. All M Series MacBook Pros were released in late October or November:

All of these dates fell on Tuesdays, which means we can expect Apple to release the first Mac M4 on a Tuesday in late October or early or mid-November. So, the most likely release dates for the MacBook Pro M4 are October 29 and November 5, 12 and 19.

If you’re waiting for the MacBook Air M4, you may have to wait a little longer. The M-series MacBook Air release dates are less consistent than the MacBook Pro release dates. The last three were in November, July and March, making it difficult to predict the release date of the M4 Air.

However, Apple released the MacBook Air M3 in March 2024, so it is unlikely that it will release the M4 less than a year after the M3. As a result, it is highly likely that the MacBook Air M4 release date will be revealed at least sooner March 2025.

8. iPhone 16

Renders of the blue iPhone 16 based on leaked diagrams and rumors.

(Photo: Laptop Mag / Rael Hornby)

The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro may feature exciting design and hardware improvements, including more processing power for Apple Intelligence. If you can’t wait to get your hands on one, you’ll have to wait until September.

Six of the last eight iPhone release dates were in September. In fact, September is by far the most common month for new iPhones to be released. The last two weeks of the month are particularly likely September 16, 20 and 22which Apple has used over the years in many versions of the iPhone.

Considering 16th of September falls on a Monday this year and coincides with the most likely release date of iOS 18, which is the most likely release date of the iPhone 16 based on Apple’s iPhone release patterns.

On the horizon: Apple Watch X, Vision Pro 2 and more

Tim is cooking

(Image: Apple)

The rest of 2024 will be an exciting year for Apple fans with a series of major software updates, the M4 MacBook Pro and the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro just around the corner. However, there is even more on the horizon.

In 2025 and 2026, we expect not only more new Macs, iPhones and iPads, but also a redesigned Apple Watch a much needed design update. Base iPads and iPad Minis are also expected to be updated, Apple may release an update Mini iPad with OLED also in the next year or two.

We will be closely following all updates and rumors regarding all upcoming Apple products and software releases. So stay tuned for more news and insights on everything related Apple Intelligence to Vision Pro 2 and even mysterious foldable MacBook with all-screen display.