This week, Apple introduced the official dates for its thirty fourth annual International Developer Convention, with the annual WWDC keynote occasion happening on Monday, June 5. The keynote is the place Apple unveils new variations of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, and we typically get {hardware} bulletins.
Rumors this yr counsel that there are at the least three new gadgets anticipated to be unveiled mid-year, and Apple may use WWDC to showcase them.
MacBook Air 15 inch
We have heard a number of rumors a few larger-screen 15.5-inch MacBook Air, which is anticipated to launch later this summer season. Set to ship alongside a brand new model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, a 15-inch MacBook Air would give clients searching for a larger-screen light-weight machine an choice that is not the MacBook Professional.
The 15.5-inch MacBook Air might be solely barely bigger than the older 15.4-inch MacBook Professional, and can vary in dimension between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions. We anticipate the 15.5-inch MacBook Air to seem like a bigger model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air launched final yr, with no notable design modifications.
It is not fully clear what chips 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 first launched final yr, however quickly for the M3 to debut. Kuo stated the brand new MacBook Air fashions will use M2 and M2 Professional chips, whereas 9to5Mac stated it is going to use new M3 chips.
For extra info on the 15-inch MacBook Air rumors, we’ve got a devoted information to the 15-inch MacBook Air.
Mac Professional
The Mac Professional is the final Mac that Apple must improve to Apple silicon to do away with all Intel chips. When Apple’s first silicon chip was launched in 2020, Apple stated it could take a couple of years to finish the transition, and 2023 is the yr that can occur.
We’re anticipating a brand new Mac Professional in 2023, with the machine set to function the identical normal design as the prevailing Mac Professional. It’ll use the identical chrome steel body and aluminum housing with easy accessibility to inside elements.
Apple’s silicon Mac Professional is anticipated to make use of a “M2 Extremely” chip with as much as 24-core CPU and as much as 76-core GPU, with help for at the least 192GB of RAM.
Proper now, Apple’s silicon chips are limiting when it comes to upgrades, which may have an effect on the Mac Professional. Apple silicon Macs do not have user-upgradeable RAM as a result of the reminiscence is tied to the motherboard and the identical is true of the GPU. The Mac Professional might not have a user-upgradeable GPU or upgradable RAM except Apple makes some form of unexpected replace to the best way Apple’s silicon chips are constructed or applied into the machine.
Rumors have steered that the Mac Professional will arrive within the first half of the yr, and Apple has used WWDC previously to unveil machines aimed toward builders and designers, so there is a good likelihood we’ll see the Mac Professional revealed at Apple’s occasion.
For extra info on what to anticipate from the Mac Professional, we’ve got a Mac Professional information.
MacStudio
Apple launched the Mac Studio in March 2022, and the machine is sort of a hybrid Mac mini and Mac Professional. It makes use of M1 Max and M1 Extremely chips and is in principle due for an replace, however the Mac Studio’s destiny is unclear with a brand new Mac Professional on the horizon.
An up to date model of Mac Studio would use the M2 Max and M2 Extremely chips, the identical chips rumored for the Mac Professional. It is unclear how Apple would differentiate the Mac Studio and Mac Professional in the event that they each used the identical chip know-how, so there will not be a M2 collection Mac Studio.
As of proper now, there are not any rumors of a brand new Mac Studio, so it is not going we’ll see it at WWDC, but it surely’s not unimaginable.
AR/VR headset
Apple has repeatedly postponed the presentation of its AR/VR “combined” actuality headset if the rumors are to be believed, however we may lastly see it proven on the 2023 Worldwide Builders Convention. In February, BloombergMark Gurman of stated the gadget will get an introduction at WWDC with cargo anticipated later this yr, however that is not but a sure factor.
Simply this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated Apple has delayed mass manufacturing of the headphones, which may imply it will not make an look at WWDC. Based on Kuo, Apple is “not very optimistic” that the headset will be capable of create an “iPhone second,” inflicting uncertainty as as to if the headset will premiere at WWDC.
A delay in mass manufacturing would not essentially imply a delay in unveiling as rumors have at all times indicated that Apple’s plan is to point out the headset effectively prematurely of launch, however a combined actuality headset at WWDC is not a factor. positive as Apple may wait till the top of the yr to introduce it.
When it comes to voices, the AR/VR headset appears to be like so much like the primary technology Apple Watch. It is an costly gadget with restricted options and restricted client enchantment, which Apple will enhance with subsequent releases.
The primary model of the combined actuality headset is claimed to have a price ticket of round $3,000, and Apple would not anticipate it to promote effectively. Staff have expressed concern concerning the gadget’s restricted usefulness, and Apple would not seem to have a tentpole app with which to promote it. Apple is placing quite a lot of concentrate on communication and growing avatars, however whether or not that can enchantment to customers stays to be seen.
Rumors point out that the headset could have high-end know-how with a 4K micro OLED show and greater than a dozen cameras to trace every thing from facial expressions at hand gestures, however there are additionally main drawbacks, similar to the necessity to put on an exterior battery pack to energy the gadget.
A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple designed a wearable battery that can energy the headphones for about two hours earlier than it wants recharging. Apple is claimed to have aimed to create a snug, light-weight design with a modern, curved visor with a mesh backing and an adjustable headband.
Some Apple workers are reportedly involved concerning the product and have questioned whether or not the gadget is a “resolution to an issue” that is not “pushed by the identical readability” as different Apple merchandise.
A complete overview of every thing we learn about Apple’s AR/VR headsets will be present in our roundup of AR/VR headsets.
New Software program
At WWDC, Apple will present iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10, plus, if headphones are launched, we may see the primary model of xrOS, the software program designed to run on the gadget.
Of those updates, iOS 17 at all times garners essentially the most curiosity and is usually the one software program we hear about earlier than launch. Apparently iOS 17 is supposed so as to add a number of the “extremely requested options” that customers have been wanting, though there isn’t any phrase on what these options is perhaps.
There are no main “tentpole” additions just like the lock display overhaul in iOS 16, but it surely appears to be like like there might be some helpful high quality of life enhancements. We all know that iOS 17 is anticipated to incorporate AR/VR headset help, main CarPlay updates, and sideload app help in European nations.
Extra of what we have heard about iOS 17 will be present in our roundup of iOS 17.
WWDC dates and viewing info
The Worldwide Builders Convention will kick off on Monday June fifth and run by way of Friday June ninth. For non-developers, the principle occasion on June fifth might be of nice curiosity.
The primary occasion is more likely to start at 10am Pacific Time and might be streamed stay on Apple’s web site, Apple TV, and YouTube. MacRumors could have complete protection of Apple’s bulletins each right here at MacRumors.com and thru ours MacRumorsLive Twitter account.