iOS 13 will be available in Australia from 20 September
But the very similar iPadOS will ship a little later on 30 September.
At its Apple "By Innovation Only" event, Apple announced precisely when you'll be able to upgrade to the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS.
iOS 13 will be available to download from 20 September in Australia, with US availability from 19 September. That's not Apple discriminating against Australian users, mind you. It's just the realities of the international date line.
iOS 13 adds performance improvements, a new dark mode, new security features including Sign in With Apple and a slew of upgrades to key iOS apps such as Music, Messages, Safari and Photos.
Which phones can upgrade to iOS 13?
While iOS 13 will be preinstalled on this year's iPhones, it's also coming to the last few generations as well. Specifically, these models can grab the full update once it's live from Apple's servers:
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPod touch (7th gen)
If you're still rocking an iPhone older than the iPhone 6s, Apple would really like you to upgrade. It's also worth noting that older iPhone models may not get all the new features of iOS 13. That's not just for the technology they don't have – an iPhone 6s is never going to get FaceID unlock, for example – but also speed improvements and some software app features.
Apple's split of iOS into its purely mobile variant and the tablet-specific "iPadOS" has led to a shift in release dates for tablet owners. While iPhones will see iOS 13 on 19 September, iPadOS won't launch until 30 September, which is also when the iOS 13.1 upgrade is reportedly going to be available.
Visit our Apple iPhone 11 news hub for more news from Apple's launch event.