When is iPhone's Next Update: Apple's iOS 18.5 and 26 Update Schedule

Apple has officially announced that the next major update for iOS will be iOS 18, with a smaller update, iOS 18.5, expected to follow shortly after.

iOS 18 is set to be released in the fall of 2024, with a more detailed release date to be announced at a later time.

Apple typically releases new iOS updates every year, and this trend is expected to continue with the release of iOS 18.

The exact release date for iOS 18 is not yet available, but we can expect it to be announced in the coming months.

Apple's iOS 26 update is still in the development stage, with no official release date announced yet.

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iOS 18.5 is expected to be released during the week of May 12, based on Apple's previous mid-cycle update patterns.

Apple tends to roll out mid-cycle updates, like iOS 18.5, with light features and a focus on security and stability.

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Here's a list of previous x.5 updates to illustrate the pattern:

As you can see, the release dates for these mid-cycle updates vary, but most occur in late April or early May.

Apple is expected to launch iOS 26 this fall, with mid-September likely being the release date. It will be available to all users with a supported iPhone shortly after Apple unveils the iPhone 17 lineup at its September 9 event.

The update will bring a new Liquid Glass redesign, along with big updates to Messages, Apple Music, Wallet, CarPlay, and more. If you don't want to wait until September, you can try out the public beta version of iOS 26 now.

To get the public beta, you need to enroll at beta.apple.com. Keep in mind that pre-release software like this can have bugs and performance issues, so it's not recommended for everyone.

Here's a rough idea of when previous mid-cycle updates like iOS 18.5 were released:

As you can see, mid-cycle updates tend to be light on features and focused on security and stability.