This week Apple introduced the official dates for its thirty fourth annual Worldwide Builders Convention, with the annual WWDC keynote occasion scheduled to happen on Monday, June 5. The keynote is the place Apple reveals new variations of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, and typically, we get {hardware} bulletins.
Rumors this yr recommend that there are at the very least three new gadgets set to be unveiled in the course of the yr, and Apple may use WWDC to indicate them off.
15-inch MacBook Air
We have heard lots of rumors a few 15.5-inch MacBook Air with a much bigger display screen, which is meant to be out by summer season. Bought alongside a brand new model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, a 15-inch MacBook Air will give clients on the lookout for a light-weight machine with a bigger display screen an possibility that is not the MacBook Professional.
The 15.5-inch MacBook Air will likely be barely bigger than the previous 15.4-inch MacBook Professional and can match between the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions. We anticipate the 15.5-inch MacBook Air to appear like a bigger model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air launched final yr, with no actually notable design adjustments.
It is not completely clear which chip the 15-inch MacBook Air will use as a result of the timing is bizarre. It is late for Apple to make use of the M2 chips that have been first launched final yr, however early for the debut of the M3. Kuo stated the brand new MacBook Air fashions will use M2 and M2 Professional chips, whereas 9 to five Mac stated it can use new M3 chips.
For extra on the rumored 15-inch MacBook Air, now we have a devoted 15-inch MacBook Air information.
Mac Professional
The Mac Professional is the final Mac that Apple has to replace to Apple silicon to eradicate all Intel chips. When Apple’s first silicon chip was unveiled in 2020, Apple stated it could take just a few years to finish the transition, and 2023 is the yr it can occur.
We anticipate a brand new Mac Professional in 2023, with the machine having the identical common design as the present Mac Professional. It should use the identical stainless-steel body and aluminum housing with easy accessibility to inside elements.
The Apple silicon Mac Professional is predicted to make use of an “M2 Extremely” chip with as much as 24-core CPU and as much as 76-core GPU, with assist for at the very least 192GB of RAM.
Proper now, Apple’s silicon chips are limiting on the subject of upgrades, which may have an effect on the Mac Professional. Apple silicon Macs wouldn’t have user-upgradable RAM as a result of the reminiscence is hardwired to the motherboard, and neither is the GPU. The Mac Professional could not have a user-upgradable GPU or upgradable RAM, until Apple makes some sort of unexpected replace to the way in which Apple’s silicon chips are constructed or carried out within the machine.
The Mac Professional is rumored to reach within the first half of the yr, and Apple has beforehand used WWDC to disclose machines aimed toward builders and designers, so there is a good likelihood we’ll see the Mac Professional unveiled on the Apple Occasion.
For extra on what to anticipate from the Mac Professional, now 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 theoretically anticipated to be refreshed, however the Mac Studio’s destiny is unclear with a brand new Mac Professional on the horizon.
A revamped model of Mac Studio will use M2 Max and M2 Extremely chips, the identical chips rumored for the Mac Professional. It is not clear how Apple would differentiate the Mac Studio and the Mac Professional if each used the identical chip know-how, so there might not be an M2 Mac Studio collection.
In the intervening time, there aren’t any rumors of a brand new Mac Studio, so it is unlikely that we’ll see it at WWDC, nevertheless it’s not unattainable.
AR/VR headset
Apple has pushed again the revealing of its AR/VR “combined” actuality headset a number of instances, if rumors are to be believed, however we may lastly see it on the 2023 Worldwide Builders Convention. Again in February, BloombergMark Gurman stated the gadget will get an introduction at WWDC with delivery later this yr, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not sure.
Simply this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple had pushed again mass manufacturing of the headset, which may imply it will not seem at WWDC. In response to Kuo, Apple is “not very optimistic” about whether or not the headset will be capable to create an “iPhone second,” inflicting uncertainty about whether or not the headset will likely be previewed at WWDC.
A delay in mass manufacturing would not essentially imply a delay in unveiling, as rumors have all the time urged that Apple’s plan is to indicate off the headset effectively forward of its launch, however a combined actuality headset at WWDC is not a certainty, as Apple will may wait till later within the yr to current it.
So far as rumors go, the AR/VR headset seems loads just like the first-generation Apple Watch. It is an costly gadget with restricted performance and restricted client enchantment, which Apple will enhance with future releases.
The primary model of the combined actuality headset is rumored to value round $3,000, and Apple would not anticipate it to promote effectively. Workers have expressed concern in regards to the gadget’s restricted utility, and Apple would not appear to have a tentpole app to promote it. Apple is closely centered on growing communication and avatars, however whether or not this will likely be of curiosity to shoppers stays to be seen.
Rumor has it that the headset could have some high-end tech with 4K micro OLED shows and greater than a dozen cameras to trace every thing from facial expressions to gestures, however there are additionally main downsides, reminiscent of having to put on an exterior battery to energy it. gadget.
A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple has designed a knee-worn battery that can energy the headphones for about two hours earlier than needing to be recharged. Apple is alleged to have aimed to create a cushty, light-weight design with a modern, curved visor with a mesh again and adjustable band.
Some Apple workers are reportedly involved in regards to the product and have questioned whether or not the gadget is a “resolution searching for an issue” that is not “pushed by the identical readability” as different Apple merchandise.
A full overview of every thing we learn about Apple’s AR/VR headset may be present in our AR/VR headset gallery.
New Software program
At WWDC, Apple will unveil iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17 and watchOS 10, and if the handset is unveiled, we may see the primary model of xrOS, the software program designed to run on the gadget .
Of those updates, iOS 17 all the time garners essentially the most curiosity and is usually the one software program we hear about earlier than launch. iOS 17 is seemingly aimed toward including a few of the “most requested options” that customers wished, although there isn’t any phrase on what these options is likely to be.
There are no main tentpole additions just like the lock display screen overhaul in iOS 16, nevertheless it seems like there may very well be helpful quality-of-life enhancements. We all know that iOS 17 is predicted to function assist for AR/VR headsets, main CarPlay updates, and assist for sideloading apps in European international locations.
Extra of what we have heard about iOS 17 may be present in our iOS 17 roundup.
WWDC dates and viewing data
The Worldwide Builders Convention will start on Monday, June 5 and run by Friday, June 9. For non-developers, the keynote occasion on June 5 will likely be of most curiosity.
The primary occasion is prone to begin at 10:00 am. Pacific time and will likely be streamed stay on Apple’s web site, Apple TV and YouTube. MacRumors could have full protection of Apple’s bulletins each right here at MacRumors.com and thru us MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
