iPhone 15 to be unveiled on the 12th of next month... Sales start from the 22nd

Apple is reported by foreign media to unveil its next-generation iPhone series, the 'iPhone 15,' on the 12th of next month.

Bloomberg News cited sources on the 7th (local time) and reported that the iPhone 15 series to be released this year is expected to be unveiled on September 12 or 13.

Since Apple’s iPhone events have mainly been held on Tuesdays, the 12th is highly likely to be the 'D-Day,' but sources explained that the 13th is also possible.

Apple has traditionally introduced new smartphone series in September or October, but in the past two years, it has unveiled them in September.

If the iPhone 15 is unveiled on September 12 or 13, it will be about 5 to 6 days later than last year’s iPhone 14 debut (September 7) and 1 to 2 days earlier than the 2021 iPhone 13 (September 14).

According to Apple’s usual schedule, if the new iPhone is unveiled on the 12th or 13th, pre-orders are expected to start on the 15th, and sales will likely begin on the 22nd, one week after orders start.

This aligns with last week’s forecast by IT specialist media 9to5Mac. The outlet reported that several carriers are expecting a 'major smartphone announcement' and have advised employees to avoid taking vacations during the week including September 13.

The reason why Apple is delaying the new iPhone’s unveiling by about a week compared to last year is unknown. However, Warmsee Mohan, a global securities analyst at Bank of America (BoA), predicted last month that the iPhone 15 debut could be delayed beyond September.

IT specialist media The Information also reported that some displays for the flagship models of the iPhone 15 series, the Pro and Pro Max, failed to pass 'reliability tests,' which could lead to shortages of these models and possible launch delays.

Apple is expected to send invitations one week before the event, so the final date confirmation will likely be possible only in September.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to industry and foreign media, the iPhone 15 is expected to feature significant changes, including the thinnest bezels ever and the first adoption of a USB-C charger.

Apple announced in its Q2 earnings report on the 3rd that iPhone sales, which account for about half of Apple’s revenue, decreased by 2.4% year-over-year to $39.67 billion. This is the first time since Q4 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that iPhone quarterly revenue has fallen below $40 billion.

CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with U.S. economic media CNBC last week, "The current slump in the U.S. mobile hardware market is prolonged." According to market research firm Omdia, global smartphone shipments in Q2 totaled 265.9 million units, a 9.5% decrease compared to the same period last year.