Apple this week introduced the official dates for the thirty fourth annual Worldwide Developers Conference, with the annual WWDC keynote occasion set to happen on Monday, June 5. The keynote is the place Apple unveils new variations of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, and typically, we get {hardware} bulletins.
Rumors this 12 months recommend there are at the least three new units which are set to be unveiled in the midst of the 12 months, and Apple may use WWDC to point out them off.
15-inch MacGuide Air
We’ve heard a number of rumors of a larger-screened 15.5-inch MacGuide Air, which is meant to launch by the summer season. Set to be offered alongside a brand new model of the 13.6-inch MacGuide Air, a 15-inch MacGuide Air would give clients on the lookout for a larger-screened light-weight machine an choice that is not the MacGuide Pro.
The 15.5-inch MacGuide Air can be simply barely larger than the outdated 15.4-inch MacGuide Pro, and it will likely be sized in between the 14 and 16-inch MacGuide Pro fashions. We’re anticipating the 15.5-inch MacGuide Air to seem like a bigger model of the 13.6-inch MacGuide Air that was launched final 12 months, with no actual notable design adjustments.
It’s not fully clear which chips the 15-inch MacGuide Air will use as a result of the timing is odd. It’s late for Apple to make use of the M2 chips that first got here out final 12 months, however early for the debut of the M3. Kuo has stated the brand new MacGuide Air fashions will use M2 and M2 Pro chips, whereas 9to5Mac has stated that it’ll use new M3 chips.
For extra on the rumors concerning the 15-inch MacGuide Air, we’ve got a devoted 15-inch MacGuide Air information.
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is the final Mac that Apple must replace to Apple silicon to eradicate all Intel chips. When the primary Apple silicon chip was launched in 2020, Apple stated it could take just a few years to finish the transition, and 2023 is the 12 months that can occur.
We expect a brand new Mac Pro in 2023, with the machine set to function the identical basic design as the present Mac Pro. It will use the identical chrome steel body and aluminum housing with easy accessibility to the inside elements.
The Apple silicon Mac Pro is anticipated to make use of an “M2 Ultra” chip with as much as a 24-core CPU and as much as a 76-core GPU, with help for at the least 192GB RAM.
Right now, Apple silicon chips are limiting when it comes to upgrades, which may have an effect on the Mac Pro. Apple silicon Macs shouldn’t have user-upgradeable RAM as a result of the reminiscence is tied to the motherboard, and the identical goes for the GPU. The Mac Pro might not have a consumer upgradeable GPU or upgradeable RAM until Apple makes some form of unexpected replace to the best way Apple silicon chips are constructed or carried out within the machine.
Rumors have urged that the Mac Pro is coming within the first half of the 12 months, and Apple has previously used WWDC to unveil machines focused at builders and designers, so there’s a good risk we’ll see the Mac Pro revealed at Apple’s occasion.
For extra on what to anticipate from the Mac Pro, we’ve got a Mac Pro information.
Mac Studio
Apple launched the Mac Studio in March 2022, and the machine is one thing of a Mac mini and Mac Pro hybrid. It makes use of M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips and is in concept due for a refresh, however the destiny of the Mac Studio is unclear with a brand new Mac Pro on the horizon.
A refreshed model of the Mac Studio would use M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, the identical chips rumored for the Mac Pro. It just isn’t clear how Apple would differentiate the Mac Studio and Mac Pro if each have been utilizing the identical chip know-how, so there might not be an M2 sequence Mac Studio.
As of now, there are not any rumors of a brand new Mac Studio, so it is not going we’ll see it at WWDC, nevertheless it’s not unimaginable.
AR/VR Headset
Apple has pushed again the revealing of its AR/VR “mixed” actuality headset a number of instances if rumors are to be believed, however we may lastly see it proven off on the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. Back in February, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman stated the gadget would get a WWDC introduction with delivery to come back later within the 12 months, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a certain factor.
Just this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple had pushed again mass manufacturing on the headset, which may imply that it will not make an look at WWDC. According to Kuo, Apple “isn’t very optimistic” about whether or not the headset will have the ability to create an “iPhone moment,” inflicting uncertainty round whether or not the headset can be previewed at WWDC.
A delay in mass manufacturing doesn’t essentially imply a delay within the unveiling as rumors have at all times indicated that Apple’s plan is to point out off the headset properly forward of when it launches, however a blended actuality headset at WWDC is now not a certain factor as Apple may wait till later within the 12 months to introduce it.
In phrases of rumors, the AR/VR headset sounds loads just like the first-generation Apple Watch. It’s an costly gadget with restricted performance and restricted client attraction, which Apple will enhance upon with subsequent releases.
The first model of the blended actuality headset is rumored to be priced at round $3,000, and Apple doesn’t count on it to promote properly. Employees have expressed concern concerning the restricted usefulness of the gadget, and Apple does not appear to have a tentpole app to promote it with. Apple is focusing closely on communication and avatar improvement, however whether or not it will curiosity customers stays to be seen.
Rumors point out the headset may have some high-end know-how with 4K micro OLED shows and greater than a dozen cameras for monitoring every thing from facial expressions handy gestures, however there are main downsides as properly, equivalent to the necessity to put on an exterior battery pack to energy the gadget.
A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple has designed a hip-worn battery that can energy the headset for about two hours earlier than it must be recharged. Apple is claimed to have been aiming to create a cushty, light-weight design with a smooth, curved visor with a mesh backing and an adjustable band.
Some Apple workers are reportedly involved concerning the product and have questioned whether or not the gadget is a “solution in search of a problem” that is not “driven by the same clarity” as different Apple merchandise.
A full overview of every thing we learn about Apple’s AR/VR headset might be present in our AR/VR headset roundup.
New Software
At WWDC, Apple will introduce iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10, plus if the headset is launched, we may see the primary model of xrOS, the software program designed to run on the gadget.
Of these updates, iOS 17 at all times garners probably the most curiosity and it is typically the one software program we hear about forward of launch. iOS 17 is seemingly aimed toward including a number of the “most requested features” that customers have been wanting, although there isn’t any phrase on what these options may be.
There is not any main “tentpole” addition just like the Lock Screen overhaul in iOS 16, nevertheless it seems like there may very well be some helpful high quality of life enhancements. We do know that iOS 17 is anticipated to function help for the AR/VR headset, main CarPlay updates, and help for sideloading apps in European nations.
More of what we have heard about iOS 17 might be present in our iOS 17 roundup.
WWDC Dates and Viewing Info
The Worldwide Developers Conference will begin on Monday, June 5 and final via Friday, June 9. For non-developers, the keynote occasion on June 5 can be of probably the most curiosity.
The keynote occasion is more likely to begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and it will likely be broadcast stay on Apple’s web site, on the Apple TV, and on YouTube. MacRumors may have full protection of Apple’s bulletins each right here on MacRumors.com and thru our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
