Apple’s highly anticipated iOS 17 was announced at its June keynote event, with exciting new features such as Standby mode and improvements to apps like Messages. However, the tech giant has remained elusive about the exact release date, merely hinting at a fall release, leaving tech enthusiasts and Apple users on the edge of their seats.
Analyzing past Apple events and iOS releases, we can discern a pattern that suggests the release of iOS 17 may happen shortly after this year’s September event. Apple’s tradition of holding events in June and September has been consistent for over a decade, and the release of the next iOS usually follows within a week of the September event. However, Apple has been tight-lipped about the specifics of its September event and the iOS 17 release, keeping the tech world in suspense.
Predicting the Release Date of iOS 17
Apple’s annual iOS updates are a highlight of the tech calendar. This year, the tech giant announced the 17th version of their operating system at the June keynote. The new release is eagerly awaited for its promising features like Standby mode and improvements to apps like Messages. However, the exact release date remains a mystery, with Apple only indicating a fall release.
Decoding Apple’s Release Pattern
In order to make an educated guess about the release date of iOS 17, one can look at Apple’s past behaviour. The tech giant has a pattern of holding events every June and September. The new iOS versions are usually released a few days after the September event.
For instance, in 2018, Apple’s event was held on Sept. 12 and the company launched iOS 12 five days later on Sept. 17. Even in years when the release took longer, like 2019, 2014 and 2013, the new iOS version was out eight or nine days after the event.
Moreover, the gap between Apple’s September event and the release of the next iOS version has been decreasing over the past decade. Last year, iOS 16 was released just five days after the company’s Sept. 7 event.
Looking at the Days of the Week
In the past decade, all iOS version updates were released during the week, with none being released on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Wednesdays and Mondays have been the most popular days for Apple to release iOS versions. Four iOS versions were released on a Wednesday, while three versions came out on a Monday. With this pattern, it’s likely that iOS 17 will be released on a Monday or Wednesday.
The Prediction for iOS 17
If we consider Bloomberg’s tech reporter Mark Gurman’s predicted event dates of Sept. 12 or 13, and assume that Apple will release iOS 17 five or six days later, we get a timeframe of Sept. 17 to 19. However, Apple does not typically release iOS updates during the weekend, and Sept. 17 falls on a Sunday this year. Therefore, potential iOS 17 release dates could be Sept. 18 or 19.
Based on Apple’s past patterns, my prediction is that Apple will release iOS 17 on Monday, Sept. 18.
My Takeaways
Apple’s consistency in their release patterns gives us a pretty clear indication of when we can expect iOS 17. While we can’t confirm the date until Apple does, it’s safe to say that mid-September is a very likely timeframe. In the meantime, you can check out the iOS 17 public beta to get a glimpse of what’s to come. With new features and app improvements, there’s plenty to look forward to with iOS 17.
