Why do Apple devices always show the timestamp 9:41

What is the story?

Apple recently unveiled its latest hardware innovations at its Glowtime event, including the new iPhone 16 series.

In addition to these devices, Apple also released the Apple Watch Series 10 and new AirPods (4th generation) models.

Astute Apple product enthusiasts have noticed an interesting detail in the company’s promotional materials: electronic devices consistently display the time as 9:41.

This seemingly arbitrary detail sparked speculation and amusement, leading to the question: why 9:41?

Meaning of the timestamp “9:41”

The consistent display of the time 9:41 in Apple’s promotional images is not a random choice, but a tradition with historical significance.

This practice can be linked to the company’s founder, Steve Jobs.

According to Scott Forstall, a former Apple executive, the 9:41 timestamp was created during rehearsals before the launch of the first iPhone in 2007.

Jobs reportedly planned to unveil the device at exactly 9:42 a.m. during his keynote presentation.

This tradition continues with the iPhone 16 series

While the actual reveal may have occurred slightly later, the 9:41 a.m. timestamp on the iPhone during rehearsals served as the target time.

Thanks to this, the product presentation fit perfectly into the planned presentation schedule.

Following the success of the iPhone launch, the 9:41 timestamp began appearing in marketing materials for subsequent Apple products.

This practice could also be observed with the recent launch of the iPhone 16 series.