iPhone 14 release date speculation: Here’s when we might see the new iPhone

There are so many things about the iPhone 14 that we have a clear idea before it launches later this year. But what about the release date of the iPhone 14? There haven’t been any concrete leaks yet, but we can draw a timeline based on past launches.

To date, leaks about the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models have focused on features. The Pro offerings are likely to ditch the iPhone’s signature notch in favor of a pair of cutouts, for example, and the iPhone 14 Pro could see its main camera bump up to a 48MP sensor. Meanwhile, the Mini model from the last two years is likely to replace the iPhone 14 Max, a 6.7-inch version of Apple’s standard iPhone.

While not official, those details seem pretty solid. The release date of the iPhone 14 is more of a mystery, with most Apple watchers referring to an undisclosed launch date sometime in the fall. More daring forecasters will speculate about the September launch window, mainly because that’s the month Apple usually shows off its new phones.

While the release date rumors haven’t surfaced yet, we don’t have to wait until they do to make some educated guesses as to when the iPhone 14 might appear. While Apple keeps a lot of the details near its vest, it has a particular pattern of doing things that makes it easy enough to pin down an exact date before the rumors can confirm whether we’re on the right track.

Here’s a look at when Apple might set the release date of the iPhone 14, how the company has handled recent iPhone launches, along with other issues that may have factored into the timing of the iPhone 14.

iPhone 14 Release Date: When Previous iPhones Have Been Launched

No one knows what will happen in the future, but Apple’s recent past holds some clues as to what and when may come out of Cupertino. Here’s a quick recap of when Apple launched the last eight iPhones.

Your pattern recognition skills do not need to be sharp to recognize the trend in that chart. In a year since 2014, Apple has announced its iPhones in September. Even more specifically, this announcement usually comes within the first two weeks of September.

There has been one exception, and that is 2020. You may recall that the first year of the coronavirus pandemic disrupted a lot of manufacturing that year, including the iPhone. That’s why Apple postponed its iPhone 12 launch event till 13 October.

Dating back to 2014, the iPhone 12 launch was the only one that didn’t happen in September. (image credit: Apple)

This wasn’t the only unusual thing about the iPhone 12 launch. Apple also had to stop the release of its newly announced models. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro were both revealed 10 days after the launch event, but the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max didn’t ship until November.

The iPhone 12 launch was actually the third time Apple surprised its phone release. The iPhone XR appeared in 2019 a month after the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, while the iPhone X didn’t show up until early November 2018—about six weeks after the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus debuted.

In 2021, things are back to normal with all four iPhone 13 models shipping together (though there were supply issues, especially for the iPhone 13 Pro models during the holiday shopping season). Unless Apple or the rumor mongers suggest differently, assuming the same launch date for any and all iPhone models is Apple’s preferred method.

Again, looking at the chart above, you see a pattern. Apple schedules the actual launch 10 to 11 days after presenting its phones to the waiting world. While there are exceptions — the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus shipped later than that time frame — you’d expect the iPhone 14 to fall in a similar pattern.

iPhone 14 release date: When we think Apple will announce its phone

In the absence of rumors of a definitive iPhone 14 release date, we only have Apple’s past history. And that history indicates that Apple will hold an event to show off the iPhone 14 models in the first two weeks of September 2022.

(Image credit: Technizo Concepts/Let’s Go Digital)

Another thing that’s helpful to know about Apple is that it likes to hold its press events on Tuesdays whenever possible. This is significant in terms of an early September launch event because the first Tuesday in September – September 6 this year – falls immediately after the Labor Day holiday in the US. Since Apple doesn’t usually like to have a three-day weekend before its big product launch, if it can help it, it rules September 6 as the date for the iPhone 14 event.

So if you buy the idea that 1) Apple holds its iPhone events in early September; 2) Apple prefers Tuesdays when it’s time to hold a product event; and 3) Apple is not going to do anything right after Labor Day, which is just one day left in which iPhone 14 can make its debut.

We speculate that the iPhone 14 is announced on September 13th. Should Apple stick to its track record or release the phone after 10 days or so, which puts September 22 as a possible iPhone 14 release date, that could be the new day. Model stores hit.

We want to emphasize – nothing is official about that date, and that could change as more information leaks out about Apple’s iPhone plans. But if you want to plan yours now, September 13 seems like an equally good date to pay attention to what’s happening in Cupertino.

iPhone 14 Release Date: Possible Delay

Nothing is written in stone about the release date of the iPhone 14, even if subsequent leaks confirm or refute our guess. Things could come up that could hopefully push the iPhone 14 launch later, and it’s one issue in particular worth keeping an eye on.

Despite mask easing and other COVID-19 measures, the pandemic is not over, and cases may rise again. Take a look at China, where the entire city has been under lockdown as the Covid-19 cases rise. This is especially relevant for Apple’s iPhone 14 plan, as the phone is assembled in China.

Earlier in April, the city of Zhengzhou closed some areas near Foxconn-run iPhone manufacturing facilities, raising concerns that production of the iPhone 14 could be delayed. However, later reports stated that Foxconn’s Zhengzhou facility is operating normally. Nevertheless, any changes may affect the release date of the iPhone 14.

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