Official dates for Apple’s 34th annual Worldwide Developers Conference were revealed this week, with the keynote event scheduled for Monday, June 5. At the introduction, Apple typically announces new versions of its operating systems, including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Apple may use WWDC to reveal at least three new devices, according to rumors, which would be released around the middle of the year.
MacBook Air, 15-inch
Several reports have surfaced suggesting that Apple is preparing to release a 15.5-inch MacBook Air this summer. A 15-inch MacBook Air, alongside a refreshed 13.6-inch model, would provide an alternative to the MacBook Pro for those who prefer a more sizable display on their portable computer.
The new 15.5-inch MacBook Air will fall in size between the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, being only slightly larger than the previous 15.4-inch variant. The 15.6-inch MacBook Air is widely speculated to appear identical to the 13.6-inch MacBook Air released last year, albeit larger.
The schedule makes it unclear which chip the 15-inch MacBook Air will use. Apple is still using the M2 processors a year after they were first released, but the M3 has already been released. While 9to5Mac claims the new MacBook Air will use M3 processors, Kuo claims M2 and M2 Pro CPUs will be used.
We have a separate primer for the 15-inch MacBook Air if you want to learn more about the speculation surrounding it.
An Advanced Mac
The Mac Pro is the company’s last remaining Intel-based Mac, so it’s high time they switched to Apple hardware. The switch to Apple’s semiconductor chips, first announced in 2020, will be completed in 2023, as promised by the company.
In 2023, Apple is expected to release a new Mac Pro with largely the same specifications as the current model. The same sturdy stainless steel framework and lightweight aluminum case will be used, as well as simple removal and replacement of internal parts.
An “M2 Ultra” chip with up to a 24-core CPU and up to a 76-core GPU and support for at least 192GB of RAM is anticipated to power the next generation of Apple’s Mac Pro.
Upgrades to the Mac Pro may be limited in the near future due to Apple’s silicon processor limitations. Apple silicon Macs cannot have their memory or graphics processing units upgraded by the user because these components are soldered directly onto the processor. Unless Apple makes an unexpected change to the way Apple silicon chips are made or implemented in the Mac Pro, it’s possible that neither the GPU nor the RAM can be upgraded by the user.
Apple has traditionally used its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to introduce new machines aimed at coders and designers, so it’s possible that the Mac Pro will be unveiled this year as well.
We have a Mac Pro tutorial that goes into greater detail about the capabilities of the Mac Pro.
Mac Recording Studio
In March of 2022, Apple released the Mac Studio, a computer that combines elements of the Mac mini and Mac Pro. It’s time for an update, as the M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips it employs are getting old, but with a new Mac Pro on the horizon, the future of the Mac Studio is uncertain.
The rumored Mac Pro would use the same M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors, so it makes sense that Apple would use them in an updated Mac Studio. There may not be an M2 series Mac Studio because it is unclear how Apple would distinguish the Mac Studio and Mac Pro if they both used the same chip technology.
There have been no reports of a new Mac Studio leading up to WWDC, so its appearance there is unlikely (though not impossible).
VR/AR Glasses
If rumors are to be believed, Apple has repeatedly delayed the debut of its AR/VR “mixed” reality headset, but that event may eventually come to fruition at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. Even though Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman predicted in February that the gadget would be introduced at WWDC and shipped later in the year, neither of those predictions has come to fruition.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently speculated that the headset wouldn’t be shown off at WWDC because Apple had delayed its mass manufacturing. There is some doubt as to whether or not the headset will be previewed at WWDC due to Kuo’s claims that Apple “isn’t very optimistic” about the headset’s ability to generate an “iPhone moment.”
A mixed reality headset at WWDC is no longer a sure thing, as Apple could wait until later in the year to introduce it. This is because rumors have always indicated that Apple’s plan is to show off the headset well ahead of when it launches.
The rumored augmented reality/virtual reality device sounds like the original Apple Watch. Apple will make it better in future iterations, but for now, it’s an expensive gadget with few useful features and little appeal to the general public.
Apple reportedly does not anticipate strong demand for the first iteration of its mixed reality headset, which is expected to retail for around $3,000. Workers are worried that the gadget has limited utility, and Apple doesn’t appear to have a “tentpole app” to help promote it. Whether or not Apple’s emphasis on communication and avatar growth will appeal to customers is unknown.
Reportedly featuring 4K micro OLED displays and more than a dozen cameras for monitoring everything from facial expressions to hand gestures, the headset will have some cutting-edge technology, but it will also have some significant drawbacks, such as requiring the user to carry around an external battery pack.
When Apple realized that a built-in battery would make the headset too weighty, they set out to create a hip-worn battery that could power the device for two hours without needing to be recharged. Apple is rumored to have aimed for a breathable, adjustable, and lightweight design with this cap by including a curved visor and a mesh rear.
Some insiders say Apple workers are worried about the product and have expressed doubts about whether or not it solves a real issue or is “driven by the same clarity” as other Apple offerings.
Our AR/VR headgear overview contains all the information we have about Apple’s headset.
Latest Programs
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10 at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). If the headgear is unveiled at the same time, we may also get to see the debut of xrOS, the operating system built specifically to power the headset.
The most talked-about upgrade of late has been iOS 17, and until now that’s been the only one. It has been reported that iOS 17 will include some of the “most requested features” that consumers have been asking for.
There is no “tentpole” update similar to the Lock Screen makeover in iOS 16, but there may be some welcome quality of life enhancements. We do know that iOS 17 will allow for the sideloading of apps in European countries, significant updates to CarPlay, and support for augmented reality and virtual reality headsets.
Our iOS 17 summary has more information about the new operating system.
How to Watch WWDC and When
Beginning on Monday, June 5, and running through Friday, June 9, is the Worldwide Developers Conference. The June 5 keynote presentation will be the highlight for attendees who aren’t coders.
It’s possible that the keynote address will begin at 10:00 a.m. The event will begin at 10 a.m. PDT and can be viewed live on the Apple website, Apple TV, and YouTube.
