Apple this week introduced the official dates for the thirty fourth annual Worldwide Builders Convention, 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 gadgets which are set to be unveiled in the course of the 12 months, and Apple might use WWDC to point out them off.
15-inch MacBook Air
We have heard a number of rumors of a larger-screened 15.5-inch MacBook Air, which is meant to launch by the summer time. Set to be bought alongside a brand new model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, a 15-inch MacBook Air would give prospects on the lookout for a larger-screened light-weight machine an choice that is not the MacBook Professional.
The 15.5-inch MacBook Air shall be simply barely larger than the previous 15.4-inch MacBook Professional, and will probably be sized in between the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions. We’re anticipating the 15.5-inch MacBook Air to appear like a bigger model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air that was launched final 12 months, with no actual notable design modifications.
It is not fully clear which chips the 15-inch MacBook Air will use as a result of the timing is odd. It is 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 mentioned the brand new MacBook Air fashions will use M2 and M2 Professional chips, whereas 9to5Mac has mentioned that it’ll use new M3 chips.
For extra on the rumors in regards to the 15-inch MacBook Air, we have a devoted 15-inch MacBook Air information.
Mac Professional
The Mac Professional 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 mentioned it might take just a few years to finish the transition, and 2023 is the 12 months that may occur.
We predict a brand new Mac Professional in 2023, with the machine set to function the identical normal design as the prevailing Mac Professional. It is going to use the identical stainless-steel body and aluminum housing with easy accessibility to the inside parts.
The Apple silicon Mac Professional is predicted to make use of an “M2 Extremely” 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.
Proper now, Apple silicon chips are limiting by way of upgrades, which might have an effect on the Mac Professional. 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 Professional could not have a person 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 recommended that the Mac Professional is coming within the first half of the 12 months, and Apple has prior to now used WWDC to unveil machines focused at builders and designers, so there’s a good risk we’ll see the Mac Professional revealed at Apple’s occasion.
For extra on what to anticipate from the Mac Professional, we have a Mac Professional information.
Mac Studio
Apple launched the Mac Studio in March 2022, and the machine is one thing of a Mac mini and Mac Professional hybrid. It makes use of M1 Max and M1 Extremely chips and is in idea due for a refresh, however the destiny of the Mac Studio is unclear with a brand new Mac Professional on the horizon.
A refreshed model of the Mac Studio would use M2 Max and M2 Extremely chips, the identical chips rumored for the Mac Professional. It’s not clear how Apple would differentiate the Mac Studio and Mac Professional if each have been utilizing the identical chip expertise, so there will 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 disclosing of its AR/VR “blended” actuality headset a number of instances if rumors are to be believed, however we might lastly see it proven off on the 2023 Worldwide Builders Convention. Again in February, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman mentioned the system would get a WWDC introduction with delivery to return later within the 12 months, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a positive factor.
Simply this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that Apple had pushed again mass manufacturing on the headset, which might imply that it will not make an look at WWDC. Based on Kuo, Apple “is not very optimistic” about whether or not the headset will have the ability to create an “iPhone second,” inflicting uncertainty round whether or not the headset shall 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 effectively forward of when it launches, however a blended actuality headset at WWDC is now not a positive factor as Apple might wait till later within the 12 months to introduce it.
When it comes to rumors, the AR/VR headset sounds quite a bit just like the first-generation Apple Watch. It is an costly system with restricted performance and restricted shopper attraction, which Apple will enhance upon with subsequent releases.
The primary model of the blended actuality headset is rumored to be priced at round $3,000, and Apple doesn’t count on it to promote effectively. Workers have expressed concern in regards to the restricted usefulness of the system, 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 this can curiosity customers stays to be seen.
Rumors point out the headset could have some high-end expertise with 4K micro OLED shows and greater than a dozen cameras for monitoring all the pieces from facial expressions at hand gestures, however there are main downsides as effectively, corresponding to the necessity to put on an exterior battery pack to energy the system.
A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple has designed a hip-worn battery that may 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 modern, curved visor with a mesh backing and an adjustable band.
Some Apple workers are reportedly involved in regards to the product and have questioned whether or not the system is a “resolution in the hunt for an issue” that is not “pushed by the identical readability” as different Apple merchandise.
A full overview of all the pieces we find out about Apple’s AR/VR headset will be discovered in our AR/VR headset roundup.
New Software program
At WWDC, Apple will introduce iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10, plus if the headset is launched, we might see the primary model of xrOS, the software program designed to run on the system.
Of those 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 outwardly geared toward including among the “most requested options” that customers have been wanting, although there is no phrase on what these options is perhaps.
There isn’t a main “tentpole” addition just like the Lock Display screen overhaul in iOS 16, nevertheless it feels like there could possibly be some helpful high quality of life enhancements. We do know that iOS 17 is predicted to function help for the AR/VR headset, main CarPlay updates, and help for sideloading apps in European nations.
Extra of what we have heard about iOS 17 will be present in our iOS 17 roundup.
WWDC Dates and Viewing Information
The Worldwide Builders Convention will begin on Monday, June 5 and final by Friday, June 9. For non-developers, the keynote occasion on June 5 shall be of probably the most curiosity.
The keynote occasion is more likely to begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and will probably be broadcast dwell on Apple’s web site, on the Apple TV, and on YouTube. MacRumors could have full protection of Apple’s bulletins each right here on MacRumors.com and thru our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
