iOS 18 will go out to iPhones everywhere on September 16, but you don’t have to wait. It’s possible to go ahead and install the final version this weekend when you have time to tinker with it.
And doing so doesn’t require doing anything dodgy or risky. You’ll be getting the final version of upgrade straight from Apple… just a little earlier than scheduled.
Update: This article is now moot, as iOS 18 is officially out.