As the tech world eagerly anticipates Apple’s next big reveal, speculation surrounding the release date of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro has reached a fever pitch. A recent leak claiming to pinpoint the exact date caused quite a stir—but it turns out, the leak was a hoax. Here’s what happened, what we can still learn from it, and what might actually be true.
The Controversial Leak: What Happened?
Every year since the iPhone 5, Apple has unveiled its new iPhones in September, and 2024 is no exception. But a recent report claimed to have leaked the official invite for the event, revealing the exact date of the iPhone 16 launch. This so-called leak, shared by prolific leaker Majin Bu on social media platform X, turned out to be nothing more than a well-crafted fake.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman quickly debunked the leak, pointing out that Apple event invites never leak in advance. He noted, “Apple event invites never leak in advance. That would essentially be impossible.” Despite this, the leaked invite was picked up by several media outlets, adding fuel to the fire.
Majin Bu, who shared the fake invite, later acknowledged the error, admitting that while they found the invite convincing, it was indeed a hoax. The creator of the fake invite, @lorevfx, even revealed that they designed it in less than 10 minutes using Figma and AI-generated textures, purely for fun.
What Was in the Fake Invite?
The fake invite featured a tagline, “Ready. Set. Capture,” which many found plausible as it hinted at the rumored new Capture button on the iPhone 16 series. It also suggested a new bronze color option for the iPhone 16 Pro, which aligns with some previous predictions. However, despite these convincing details, the invite was not legitimate.
Apple is known for its tight control over such materials, and the real invites are typically finalized by a small, trusted team within the company. The fact that this fake invite circulated so widely before being debunked highlights the intense interest in the upcoming iPhone launch.
What’s Likely to Happen?
While the leaked invite was fake, some details it hinted at could still be accurate. For instance, it’s widely believed that Apple will hold an in-person event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The exact date of the keynote, however, remains uncertain. The fake invite suggested Tuesday, September 10, but there’s still some wiggle room around this date. Apple could announce the event a day earlier or later, but one thing is likely: the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will be released shortly after, with many speculating Friday, September 20, as the release date.
Conclusion: What We Know So Far
The excitement surrounding the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro continues to build, and while this recent leak turned out to be a hoax, it has only added to the anticipation. The official announcement from Apple is just around the corner, and with it, we’ll finally get the details we’ve been waiting for. Until then, stay tuned for more updates as the tech world gears up for another game-changing iPhone launch.
