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iOS 7 Release Date Breakdown

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As expected, Apple announced the iOS 7 release date for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch at today’s iPhone 5S launch event, giving owners of its older devices a date on which to expect the update. There is far more to the iOS 7 release date than the date itself and here, we breakdown everything iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners need to know about the upcoming iOS 7 release.

All the way back at WWDC 2013 in June, Apple debuted its brand new piece of iOS software dubbed iOS 7, software that will be coming to replace the current version of iOS, iOS 6. iOS 6 arrived last September alongside the iPhone 5 and like the iPhone 5, the software will be put into retirement by Apple’s new operating system.

It was there at WWDC that we learned quite a bit about iOS 7. We heard about its brand new Notifications, the improved multitasking that allows users to get a preview of their applications while changing back and forth, the changes to Siri, the overhauled camera application and maybe most importantly, the huge changes to the look of iOS.

Read: iOS 7 GM Release Brings Final Changes before Public Release.

Beware of buying a used iPhone with iOS 7 installed. If the phone is not wiped you could be out of luck.

After a lengthy wait, the iOS 7 release date is at hand.

iOS 7 represents the single biggest change to the look of the iOS operating system since, well, the inception of iOS. And it’s going to be coming to many  iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners real soon.

One thing that Apple did not touch on at WWDC was the iOS 7 release date. The company confirmed it for the fall but it was only a few weeks ago that we learned that the software would likely be making its debut in September.

Rumors suggested that it could be out as soon as today but those turned out to be wrong. Instead, our September 18th prediction came true and that will be the day that iOS 7 rolls out to owners of various iDevices.

There is more to the iOS 7 release date than the date and here, we breakdown everything users need to know about September 18th which is now confirmed to be the day that iOS 7 will roll out.

iOS 7 for iPhone & iPad on Same Day

After several betas, rumors about delays and more, Apple announced both the iOS 7 for iPhone release date and the iOS 7 for iPad release date. And guess what? They both land on the same day.

Eligible iPhones, iPads and iPod touches will be upgraded from iOS 6 to iOS 7 on September 18th through an optional update via iTunes or Over-the-Air, also known as an OTA update. What this means is that users can either plug into a computer and update through iTunes or simply head into the device’s settings to update to iOS 7 when it becomes available.

Make no mistake about it, Apple will roll out iOS 7 to all three of its mobile devices on September 18th. We’ve seen the iOS 7 GM drop today, a sign that the final version is ready for arrival, and those who have been waiting since June will have their chance to install iOS 7 for the first time in just a few short days.

1PM/10AM Roll Out Expected

What Apple did not announce was a roll out time for the iOS 7 update, something that doesn’t come as much of a surprise seeing as the company never announces exactly when its updates will roll out.

Fortunately, we have a pretty good idea based on Apple’s iOS 7 roll out history. Historically, the company rolls out its updates in the early afternoon on the east coast and in the morning for those that are on the west coast of the United States. The company seems to like to push updates around 1PM EST and 10AM PST.

This of course isn’t confirmed but we would be shocked to see the software roll out at any other time.

Some Devices Won’t Get iOS 7

At today’s event, there were no surprises for those that were initially left out of the iOS 7 party back at WWDC. In June, Apple announced that iOS 7 would be coming to select devices with other devices being left behind and that stance did not change at today’s iPhone event as Apple stayed the course.

Apple will be updating a number of big name devices with iOS 7 including the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch fifth-gen, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4 and last year’s iPad mini.

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The iPhone 3GS won’t get iOS 7.

What this means is that the original iPad and the iPhone 3GS will be missing out on iOS 7 and will instead be relegated to older versions of Apple’s operating system.

Of course, this is likely for their own good. What this is also means is that this might be the last major update to the iPhone 4S, the device that replaced the iPhone 4 in 2011.

Some Devices Getting iOS 7 Will Miss Out on Features

That said, not all iOS 7 updates will be created equal. At WWDC, Apple announced that some devices would be missing out on iOS 7 features and the company has stuck to its guns with the final version of iOS 7. Here is how the iOS 7 updates will breakdown for each device that receives the update on September 18th.

iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 is going to be getting the full version of iOS 7. That means that it will get the AirDrop features that allows users to easily share files with one another. It will Square and the other video formats along with the ability to swipe to capture in the camera. It will also get iOS 7’s new filters that will be coming in the camera app itself and with photos.

The iPhone 5 will get a full version of iOS 7.

The iPhone 5 will get a full version of iOS 7.

The changes to Siri will of course be on board which means that users will be able to control their new iTunes Radio stations or simply play a voicemail from a sibling that lives across the country.

iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S will be getting most of what iOS 7 has to offer though there will be a few things missing when the iOS 7 update arrives on September 18th. Among them filters in camera and AirDrop. That’s it. Other than those two features, iOS 7 should have everything else that is coming along for the ride in a few days.

iPhone 4

Apple’s aging iPhone 4 won’t get a full version of iOS 7 either as it will not only be missing out on AirDrop and filters in camera, but it won’t come with Panorama or Siri either as those functions are for the iPhone 4S and higher.

iPad 4

The iPad 4 is only going to be missing out on one feature: filters in camera. Other than that, the fourth-generation iPad will be coming with all of the other features that iOS 7 has to offer making it the iPad with the best feature set. Well, that is until the iPad 5 arrives later on this year.

The new iPad 5 design should mirror the iPad mini, and will likely include Samsung made displays.

iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4 will all get iOS 7.

iPad 3

iPad 3 owners will be missing out on AirDrop and filters in camera and that’s it, putting it just about on par with the iPad 4 in terms of features.

iPad 2

The iPad 2 is going to be getting the short end of the stick as it will be missing out on AirDrop, filters in camera, filters in photos, square and video formats, and swipe to capture. None of the iPads will be coming with panorama mode.

iPad mini

The iPad mini will, like the iPad 4 and iPad 3, be missing two iOS 7 features including AirDrop and filters in camera.

iPod touch fifth-generation

Apple’s iPod touch fifth-generation will be the only generation of iPod touch that receives the upgrade to iOS 7. And fortunately for owners, it won’t be missing out on much on release day. In fact, it will be getting everything that the iPhone 5 gets which means, well, everything.

There Are Reasons to Wait

As we pointed out yesterday, there are two sides to the coin when it comes to the iOS 7 release date. While many will feel the urge to install iOS 7 on September 18th, there are also plenty of reasons why iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners might want to look into waiting a day or two to install the software on the device.

iOS 6.1.4 jailbreak success arrives among chatter of an iOS 7 jailbreak.

Those who are using an iOS 6 jailbreak will want to skip iOS 7 on release day.

Those who are jailbroken, those who haven’t had time to prepare their device for the software upgrade, those who are unfamiliar with iOS 7, those who are afraid of bugs. These are the types of people that may want to hold off on installing on September 18th.

We fully expect the software to be void of catastrophic issues upon its release but fortunately Apple doesn’t force installation on release day meaning users have the option of waiting beyond release day to install.

22 Comments

22 Comments

  1. Leon

    09/10/2013 at 5:48 pm

    Actually the ipod touch 5 won’t have everything the iphone has (e.g Compass) because ipods don’t come with the hardware required.

    • Zami

      09/10/2013 at 7:47 pm

      Wtf man?! Of course it has a compass!!! I’m a iPod 5th gen user and the compass was built in and works just fine! Where’d you get that stupid info from xD

    • Hi

      09/10/2013 at 9:24 pm

      Yes it does, I have it… >:(

  2. Jane

    09/10/2013 at 6:47 pm

    I think this is absolutely stupid…why does 5 get everything! I have a 4. Now I just want a Samsung galaxy s3!!!! Ugh I don’t like iOS 7 now

    • Jeff

      09/10/2013 at 7:30 pm

      why it is stupid? how long have you been using your 4 and you can still getting updates on that after your few years using.
      Apple not providing updates you said they are lazy, not care about customer.
      Apple providing you updates then you want everything or it is stupid.
      How about Apple provide up an free update for your 4 to 5s?

      Go get a Samsung galaxy S3, use it until the end of the world without updates.

      • DD

        09/11/2013 at 7:03 am

        I see what they are saying. Apple is making updates to all the newer phones but not the older ones. They do this so people have to buy the newer ones when their devices get old. A lot of people want to keep their phone for a long time (more than 2 years) so I can see why that is not always going to work if you don’t get soft wear updates

        • J

          09/11/2013 at 2:32 pm

          Your completely right I bought my iPod 4 last Christmas, not even. Year and the four gets left out. Bullshit, utter bullshit, apple are rip offs

      • Borntorun

        09/18/2013 at 12:21 am

        Bingo you win Jeff! If people were just more thankful the world would be a better place! I’m excited about all the new stuff from Apple, bring it! Yeah!

    • Saj

      09/11/2013 at 12:05 am

      Of course you are going to regret.. As i did before when i chnged frm 4s to Htc 1 bt with in 1 wk i sold htc and came back to my old 4s. The fact is that other companies, what evr it may be, wthr samsung, htc ,sony , can never satisfy a regular i phone user .. Coz i phone s far far better than all of them.. Hope you will realise it soon mate :-)

      • iSheepKiller

        09/11/2013 at 12:49 am

        iSheep detected lol

      • Bugfan1

        09/13/2013 at 9:01 pm

        Sorry; but you need to read up on things. I love my I-phone 5. And I love my Galaxy S-3. But the bottom line is Android & Samsung are the # 1 & 2 cell phone makers. Apple is currently in 3rd place. AND THAT’S FACT. That’s the reason I love all 3 of these cell phone makers.

        • MightyClam

          09/15/2013 at 2:12 pm

          Android doesn’t make cell phones, they make software.

  3. DJ Chris

    09/10/2013 at 7:29 pm

    Hi,
    I run the iPhone 4, just wanted to throw my 2pence in..
    This update is something I personally have been looking forward to greatly, with many of the new feature giving a more android feeling I will stick with apple..
    Samsungs are a great range of mobile devices, larger screens and more customization being the key highlights..
    Apple has one thing which I love… Smaller. I can keep it in my pocket comfortably an talk to friends quite a lot easier, my best mate uses one of them Samsungs, 5.5″ display covers half her face… She struggles to get it in her pockets, an really why should nee a bag to carry a phone hehe..
    Downloading ios7 ASAP cheers author for the heads up on dates and times ^_^

    • John

      09/10/2013 at 8:06 pm

      I have had iOS 7 beta 6 on my ipod 5g for quit a while now, it overwhelming at first with all the new updates and I agree it shouldn’t be on ipod 4g that thing is so laggy with ios6.1.2 alone so.

  4. IOS7_FREAK

    09/10/2013 at 9:37 pm

    Yes! The IOS 7 is (officially). Sept. 18!

  5. Undermining

    09/11/2013 at 1:14 am

    That’s gay only fifth gen iPod get ios 7 that sucks!

  6. Tash

    09/11/2013 at 1:51 am

    Excellent I look forward to losing a weekend updating 4x iPhones, 3x iPads 2x iPods in this household all on 150kb connection. Might have to take the week off :)

  7. sjdf

    09/11/2013 at 2:11 am

    Iphone 4S will be getting the camera filters.

    Ipad mini will have airdrop

  8. Life4Technology

    09/11/2013 at 10:00 am

    I wish I could have jump on the cell phone wagon years ago.
    People will buy anything useless at a high price.

  9. dimonadude

    09/12/2013 at 11:25 am

    For the iPhone apple marque – i have an i phone 5, but is it a life changing cannot do without ios7 when it comes – no. Most will only use a few of the features such as me and that is it. At the end of the day a smartphone is just a phone with a few more useful features albeit at a high price. Oh – sick of the ‘leaked’ and we expect hype by apple and their ming chou chng what ever his name is that keeps popping up every week.
    Apple should be in government with their ability to leak. And in Britain where I live known as ‘rip off Britain’ look at the prices here compared with the US. And no I will not buy another apple phone unless it gets wider next year.

  10. Abe

    09/16/2013 at 11:56 am

    Will ipod touch 4th gen get it?

  11. Abe

    09/16/2013 at 12:01 pm

    Cant belive ipod 4th gen is already obsolete :(

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