iPhone 13 could land September 17, AirPods 3 soon after [Updated]

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iPhone 13 release date leaked
Wallets at the ready.
Photo: IT Home

The wait for Apple’s next-generation iPhone lineup could end in less than a month. A new report, citing information from a Chinese retailer, claims iPhone 13 will make its big debut on September 17, followed by AirPods 3.

Multiple recent rumors point toward a September release for iPhone 13, with Apple Watch Series 7 expected to launch alongside it. After that, Apple will likely roll out other new hardware before the end of the year.

More precise launch dates remained a mystery until now, but according to one Chinese retailer, we’re just weeks away from being able to place orders for iPhone 13. And third-generation AirPods will arrive soon after.

iPhone 13 to land on September 17?

Chinese website IT Home published screenshots Wednesday from a local e-commerce site that lists iPhone 13’s release date as September 17. The images also show AirPods 3 scheduled to arrive on September 30.

Later Wednesday, prolific Apple leaker Jon Prosser backed IT Home’s report. “Yep! iPhone 13 Pre-Orders Starting September 17th, Launch on September 24th,” Prosser tweeted. “For what it’s worth, we are corroborating these dates.”

It’s thought the September 17 date, if accurate, will be the date iPhone 13 becomes available to preorder. (That lines up nicely with the rumored September 14 date for this year’s virtual iPhone unveiling.) The new Apple smartphones would then land on doorsteps a week later on September 24. A photo of iPhone 13 suggests a new orange color option is on the way.

Meanwhile, Apple’s next-generation earbuds are listed with IPX4 water-resistance. That’s the same rating given to AirPods Pro.

That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to wear AirPods 3 while you swim, or even in the shower, though. An IPX4 rating means your AirPods will be OK when they get sweaty, but you certainly won’t want to get them wet.

Don’t get your hopes up

Although these release dates seem fairly plausible, it’s best to take them with a pinch of salt for now. Retailers aren’t exactly the most reliable source of information, with most knowing about as much as we do ahead of launch.

It also should be noted that IT Home has published information in the past that turned out to be inaccurate.

We updated this post to include Jon Prosser’s confirmation of the iPhone 13 launch dates.

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