Apple staff blackout dates hint at 'iPhone 8' launch post-Sept. 17

Apple's anticipated launch of new iPhones — including the "iPhone 8" — should take place sometime after Sept. 17, a memo sent to AppleCare workers suggests [updated].

"As you know, there are new product announcements and launches in September," part of the memo shared by leaker Benjamin Geskin reads. To deal with an expected jump in call volume, the company is imposing a "black out" on time off for AppleCare staff between Sept. 17 and Nov. 4.

"Keep in mind that these dates are subject to change as our support volume expectations fluctuate," the memo cautions.

Update: AppleInsider sources within Apple not authorized to speak for the company have confirmed the blackout dates.

Apple typically hosts an iPhone press event in early September and ships products later in the month. Sept. 17 is a Sunday, but the company could ship later in the week, or even hold its event around that time and ship phones farther out than usual.

It's possible that only two phones — the 4.7-inch "iPhone 7s." and 5.5-inch "7s Plus" — may be ready to ship in September. The "iPhone 8", predicted to feature a 5.8-inch, edge-to-edge OLED display, may only just be overcoming production problems related to embedding Touch ID in its screen. Some reports have suggested that mass production will only begin in October or November, which could mean that very few units will be available in 2017.

The practical screen space on the "iPhone 8" should be closer to 5.1 inches, since about 0.7 is expected to be dedicated to virtual buttons. Other device features should include an "A11" processor, wireless charging, faster cable charging, and 3D facial recognition and/or iris scanning. The processor and charging features, at least, may carry over to the "7s" line.

12 Comments

ireland 17435 comments · 18 Years

About 7 years ago

It'll be a 16:9 display + the 0.7" function area.

lepton 111 comments · 20 Years

ireland said:

It'll be a 16:9 display + the 0.7" function area.

iPhone Touch Bar here we come!

anantksundaram 20390 comments · 18 Years

So much for all the bogus rumors of delays.

Here's looking at you, Kuo...

Metriacanthosaurus 880 comments · 8 Years

anantksundaram said:

So much for all the bogus rumors of delays.

Here's looking at you, Kuo...

I'm not sure what you mean. The so-called "rumors of delays" occur every year without fail, and they are always based in truth and they are always completely misconstrued by rumor sites where the objective is to spin up as much controversy as possible.

Of course everything is going to launch on schedule third week of September. Apple has 12-month upgrade programs to service, both of their own and carriers.

Whether or not it will be "easy" to get a 7 Plus or an XE model for first few days, weeks, or months, is another question entirely, and is 99% what the "delay" rumors all point to. Apple has an objective for channel inventory for launch, and they will be probably miss that objective by a large margin (as they do every year). If you're involved in that process, it is not hard for you interpret that as "delay" and pass it on as such.

Lemme guess, iOS 11 release on Sept. 20th, iPhone XE launch on September 22nd.

I think it would be smart for Apple to stagger the release dates this year like they did in 2012 when they had 2 "new" iPhones...the 5c and the 5s. This allowed people who wanted the less popular 5c to get it, without being bombarded by the volume of people going for the 5s, and it allowed the 5s launch to be strictly 5s buyers and not mixed with buyers trying to get a 5c. Even though, there was no pre-order for the 5s, the in-store effect was the same.