Apple sets iPhone 8 launch date for September 12

We finally know when Apple will announce the iPhone 8.

Apple sent out invites to lucky members of the media and analysts on Thursday afternoon, officially marking September 12, 10 AM PT, as the event date and setting the stage with what should be Apple’s biggest product launch in years.

Yes, I got an invite and yes, I will be there giving you all the details on the iPhone 8, and, we think, a few other devices including an iPhone 7s and 7S plus.

The other big news is that this will be the first Apple product event held in the all new Steve Jobs Theater on the new Apple Park Campus.

This will be a big test for the modern, 1,000-seat theater, which was named for Apple’s iconic founder and CEO who died in 2011, which has yet to host an event. In fact, few have seen the interior besides a handful of reporters and, of course, Apple employees.

The smaller venue size (last year, Apple launched the iPhone 7 in the 7,000 seat Bill Graham Civic Auditorium), speaks to the importance and exclusivity of this event. The company’s Town Hall, the scene of many historic product launches, held just 300.

As for what Apple CEO Tim Cook will unveil on September 12, Apple isn’t saying. The invite is just a colorful Apple logo and a call to “Meet at our place.”

There’s nothing that visually hints at a new iPhone, so, sure, we’re assuming it’s the iPhone 8, the 10-year anniversary edition of the handset that’s changed 100 million lives.

The latest rumors predict a larger and longer OLED display, one that, at the top, wraps around the iSight camera and, maybe, infrared camera for facial recognition. Wireless charging is also on the menu.

More notably, most experts predict the physical Home/Touch ID button will disappear. We may see a new gesture method for unlocking the next-generation iPhone.

This may also be Apple’s most expensive iPhone at a starting price of $1,000. Which is one reason why most experts believe Apple will also unveil the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus, two upgrades to their current iPhone models that will look virtually the same, offer some component and performance upgrades, and be considerably cheaper than the new flagship smartphone.

We might also see some other products on September 12. One school of thought predicts the new Apple Watch with built-in LTE getting a little stage time. Apple may also, finally, set a launch date for the Siri-infused HomePod.

We’ll also learn the launch dates for iOS 11, and Mac OS High Sierra. Timing for the next tvOS will also be set, which may lead to another reveal: the New Apple TV…maybe.