While August has become Samsung Galaxy Note month in recent years, Apple typically captures the spotlight in September to formally unveil and commercially release hot new iPhones. This year will obviously be no exception, but although we seem to have a great deal of inside information on 2019's successors to the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max already, a number of key details are not quite etched in stone yet.
As always, we'll need to wait for the Cupertino-based tech giant to start sending press invites before knowing exactly when the iPhone 11 lineup will see daylight, with a little bit of uncertainty also floating around the official names of the three upgraded iOS handsets currently in the pipeline. A pair of new reports tackles precisely this info, and even if we still can't be 100 percent sure of, well, anything, a Wedbush analyst quoted by 9To5Mac and a fairly reputable manufacturer of smartphone accessories are lending further credence to some already plausible theories.
A simultaneous release for all three new iPhone models
When Apple first switched from a two-variant to a three-model lineup, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus made their joint commercial debut in September, followed by the groundbreaking "all-screen" iPhone X in November. The next year, it was actually the lower-cost iPhone XR that came to market a little later. Specifically, on October 26, 2018, which was five weeks after the higher-end iPhone XS and XS Max.
2018's iPhone XS and XS Max were released a little earlier than the iPhone XR
This time around, however, Apple is reportedly prepared to dispatch both its two new OLED models and single LCD variant at the same time. That's at least what Dan Ives from financial services and investment firm Wedbush Securities expects based on the latest "supply chain checks." In other words, there are no signs of production difficulties or bottlenecks of any sort for the three refreshed iPhones, all of which are tipped to go on sale sometime in the second week of September.
That sounds unusually early considering iPhone XS and XS Max sales kicked off on September 21, 2018, while 2017's iPhone 8 and 8 Plus debuted on September 22. This new tidbit also clashes with the September 20 date revealed by a top executive at a Japanese carrier last week, but perhaps that was an erroneous piece of information after all.
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max names gain steam
For quite some time, we expected Apple to maintain the Roman numeral-based branding for the 2019 iPhone family. But let's face it, the rumored iPhone XI R and XI Max monikers always sounded a little off. iPhone 11 R didn't seem like an ideal choice either, and although iPhone 11 Pro Max is a bit convoluted as well, this latest guess is arguably the best-sounding yet.
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This beast could be called iPhone 11 Max or iPhone 11 Pro Max
Unfortunately, it's important to highlight this is still largely an educated guess and little else. Granted, it's probably based on supply chain intelligence collected by case maker ESR, but that doesn't guarantee its reliability. For the time being, the company simply has reason to believe iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max are the most likely names of the three impending devices.
In case you're wondering (and you probably are), that means the direct iPhone XR sequel with a 6.1-inch LCD panel and dual rear-facing cameras could be labeled as a straightforward iPhone 11, while the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max would follow in the footsteps of 2018's iPhone XS and XS Max with divisive square-shaped triple lens modules and OLED screens reportedly measuring 5.8 and 6.5 inches in diagonal respectively.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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