New iPhone 11 (2018) release date

When will Apple release its follow-up to the iPhone 8 and X? We round up all the rumours about the release date, new features, UK price and tech specs of the 2018 iPhone - which may be called iPhone 11, XI or X Plus.

iPhone 2018 release date

We expect the successor to the iPhones 8 and X to be unveiled in September 2018. This would be exactly a year after the iPhone 8 launched, and is in line with Apple's usual habit of launching a new flagship iPhone in September.

However, in 2017 the company didn't launch all of its new iPhones at the same time. The launch of the iPhone X came one month after the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Whether this was due to delays or intentional isn't completely clear. Apple may have benefitted from pent up demand for the iPhone X, and it may have sold more iPhone 8 handsets than it would have if the iPhone X had been available sooner. More likely Apple struggled with component availability and manufacturing issues.

We don't expect that there will be a staggered launch for the new iPhone in 2018 though.

Gigabit LTE/LTE Advanced

KGI Securities' analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't think Apple will miss the September launch date in 2018. Kuo believes Apple's focus in 2018 will be to ensure that all the new models are ready to meet the same shipping date. "Achieving stable shipments and on-time shipping," he said in a research note to clients.

We expect the successor to the iPhones 8 and X to be unveiled in September 2018. This would be exactly a year after the iPhone 8 launched, and is in line with Apple's usual habit of launching a new flagship iPhone in September.

However, in 2017 the company didn't launch all of its new iPhones at the same time. The launch of the iPhone X came one month after the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Whether this was due to delays or intentional isn't completely clear. Apple may have benefitted from pent up demand for the iPhone X, and it may have sold more iPhone 8 handsets than it would have if the iPhone X had been available sooner. More likely Apple struggled with component availability and manufacturing issues.

The patent describes how you could place your finger on the display to scan it, instead of the Home Button. It describes a touchscreen display with a fingerprint-sensing layer that could be used to introduce advanced multi-user support.

For example, Apple could use the fingerprint sensing display to only allow particular users to open certain apps. This could be useful for those with children who like to explore the iPad, for example.

Additionally, Apple could take the display even further. It could be used in conjunction with a piano app, for example, to teach users the correct finger placement for the instrument.