This week, Apple introduced the official dates for its thirty fourth annual International Developer Convention, with the annual WWDC keynote occasion going down on Monday, June 5. The keynote is the place Apple unveils new variations of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, and we generally get {hardware} bulletins.
Rumors this 12 months counsel that there are not less than 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 predicted to launch later this summer time. Set to ship alongside a brand new model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, a 15-inch MacBook Air would give clients on the lookout for a larger-screen light-weight machine an possibility 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 measurement between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions. We count on the 15.5-inch MacBook Air to seem like a bigger model of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air launched final 12 months, with no notable design modifications.
It isn’t 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 12 months, however quickly for the M3 to debut. Kuo mentioned the brand new MacBook Air fashions will use M2 and M2 Professional chips, whereas 9to5Mac mentioned it should use new M3 chips.
For extra data on the 15-inch MacBook Air rumors, we have now 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 eliminate all Intel chips. When Apple’s first silicon chip was launched in 2020, Apple mentioned it will take a number of years to finish the transition, and 2023 is the 12 months that may occur.
We’re anticipating a brand new Mac Professional in 2023, with the machine set to function the identical common design as the prevailing Mac Professional. It’ll use the identical stainless-steel body and aluminum housing with easy accessibility to inner parts.
Apple’s silicon Mac Professional is predicted to make use of a “M2 Extremely” chip with as much as 24-core CPU and as much as 76-core GPU, with assist for not less than 192GB of RAM.
Proper now, Apple’s silicon chips are limiting by way of 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 until Apple makes some kind of unexpected replace to the best way Apple’s silicon chips are constructed or applied into the machine.
Rumors have prompt that the Mac Professional will arrive within the first half of the 12 months, and Apple has used WWDC prior to now to unveil machines geared toward builders and designers, so there is a good likelihood we’ll see the Mac Professional revealed at Apple’s occasion.
For extra data on what to anticipate from the Mac Professional, we have now a Mac Professional information.
MacStudio
Apple launched the Mac Studio in March 2022, and the machine is type of a hybrid Mac mini and Mac Professional. It makes use of M1 Max and M1 Extremely chips and is in idea 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 expertise, so there will not be a M2 sequence 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, nevertheless it’s not unimaginable.
AR/VR headset
Apple has repeatedly postponed the presentation of its AR/VR “blended” 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 mentioned the system will get an introduction at WWDC with cargo anticipated later this 12 months, however that is not but a sure factor.
Simply this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned Apple has delayed mass manufacturing of the headphones, which may imply it will not make an look at WWDC. In line with Kuo, Apple is “not very optimistic” that the headset will have the ability to 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 indicate the headset properly upfront of launch, however a blended actuality headset at WWDC is not a factor. positive as Apple may wait till the tip of the 12 months to introduce it.
By way of voices, the AR/VR headset appears lots like the primary technology Apple Watch. It is an costly system with restricted options and restricted client enchantment, which Apple will enhance with subsequent releases.
The primary model of the blended actuality headset is alleged to have a price ticket of round $3,000, and Apple would not count on it to promote properly. Staff have expressed concern in regards to the system’s restricted usefulness, and Apple would not seem to have a tentpole app with which to promote it. Apple is placing a whole lot of concentrate on communication and growing avatars, however whether or not that may enchantment to shoppers stays to be seen.
Rumors point out that the headset may have high-end expertise with a 4K micro OLED show and greater than a dozen cameras to trace the whole lot from facial expressions handy gestures, however there are additionally main drawbacks, akin to the necessity to put on an exterior battery pack to energy the system.
A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple designed a wearable battery that may energy the headphones for about two hours earlier than it wants recharging. Apple is alleged to have aimed to create a cushty, light-weight design with a smooth, curved visor with a mesh backing and an adjustable headband.
Some Apple workers are reportedly involved in regards to the product and have questioned whether or not the system is a “answer to an issue” that is not “pushed by the identical readability” as different Apple merchandise.
A complete overview of the whole lot we learn about Apple’s AR/VR headsets could 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 system.
Of those updates, iOS 17 at all times garners probably 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 among the “extremely requested options” that customers have been wanting, though there is no such thing as a phrase on what these options is perhaps.
There are no main “tentpole” additions just like the lock display overhaul in iOS 16, nevertheless it appears like there might be some helpful high quality of life enhancements. We all know that iOS 17 is predicted to incorporate AR/VR headset assist, main CarPlay updates, and sideload app assist in European nations.
Extra of what we have heard about iOS 17 could be present in our roundup of iOS 17.
WWDC dates and viewing data
The Worldwide Builders Convention will kick off on Monday June fifth and run by Friday June ninth. For non-developers, the principle occasion on June fifth might be of nice curiosity.
The primary occasion is prone to start at 10am Pacific Time and might be streamed reside on Apple’s web site, Apple TV, and YouTube. MacRumors may have complete protection of Apple’s bulletins each right here at MacRumors.com and thru ours MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
