The thirty fourth annual Worldwide Builders convention is lower than per week away, and it’ll characteristic one of the thrilling keynote occasions that we have had in recent times.
Apple is anticipated to introduce its first new wearable because the launch of the Apple Watch, plus there are new Macs coming and notable options for iOS 17 and watchOS 10. This information highlights all the pieces rumored to be coming at WWDC 2023.
{Hardware}
We do not at all times get {hardware} at WWDC, and in reality, the occasion often focuses on software program. Each as soon as in awhile, although, Apple has a brand new product to point out off that is timed nicely for a June launch, and that is the case this yr.
AR/VR Headset
Apple’s AR/VR headset has been in lively improvement for years now, and Apple has pushed it again a number of instances to work out ongoing points. We’re anticipating to get our first glimpse on the headset at WWDC, although it isn’t anticipated to formally launch till later within the yr.
The headset is anticipated to have a skinny and light-weight design that may make it extra comfy to put on than competing merchandise, and the lighter weight will probably be primarily facilitated by an exterior battery pack that is worn on the hip and related to the headset via a USB-C cable. Apple needs the headset to weigh round 200 grams, which might be notably lighter than different choices.
Battery life will are available in at round two hours, however as a result of it is utilizing an exterior battery pack, batteries will probably be swappable for longer put on. The headset will help each digital actuality and augmented actuality, with a bodily Digital Crown-like button to change between modes.
Leaked design info suggests the headset will probably be constructed from aluminum, glass, and carbon fiber, with a glance that is not too far off from different VR headsets just like the PlayStation VR 2 or the Oculus Quest 2. It should have a smooth entrance visor that is held on with an Apple Watch-like band, with a mesh that sits towards the face.
Two 4K microOLED shows from Sony will provide high-resolution content material in a 120-degree discipline of view, with Apple aiming for five,000 nits brightness for HDR and 4,000 pixels per inch. HDR just isn’t a typical characteristic for VR headsets, and that pixel density will outshine all competing headsets. Prescription lenses will probably be accommodated, and the inner lenses will be capable of be adjusted to match the wearer’s interpupillary distance.
Greater than a dozen cameras will observe hand actions, leg actions, and facial gestures, plus iris scanning will probably be out there for authentication. Capturing decrease physique motion just isn’t one thing most headsets do, and Apple plans to make use of the cameras to trace hand and eye gestures for management functions. Customers will, for instance, be capable of take a look at an on-screen merchandise to pick it, utilizing hand gestures to work together with it. An “air-typing” characteristic will probably be out there for textual content enter, although Apple additionally plans to permit customers to enter textual content with an iPhone, just like how the Apple TV works. The cameras may even map the encompassing setting for augmented actuality purposes, with LiDAR scanners additionally included.
Whereas the headset can hook up with a Mac to show what’s on the Mac’s display screen, it’s designed to function independently. There are two Mac-level M2 processors inside, one which’s a higher-end chip and one which’s a lower-end chip for powering sensors.
The AR/VR headset will run a brand new working system that is prone to be known as xrOS, with the xr standing for “prolonged actuality.” xrOS will probably be instantly acquainted to iOS customers, and Apple is growing devoted apps for the machine. Safari, Pictures, Messages, Maps, Apple Music, FaceTime, and extra will probably be optimized for a 3D interface, and it’ll additionally be capable of run 2D iPad apps via a particular 3D viewing expertise, just like how YouTube works on a tool just like the Meta Quest 2.
Apple is growing a devoted Health+ app for the headset for many who wish to use the machine whereas exercising, and Well being options will information customers via meditations. There will probably be a media focus with Apple planning to offer a devoted TV app, and Apple is teaming up with firms like Disney and Dolby for content material.
Apple is already working with gaming builders to assist them replace their current content material for blended actuality, and FaceTime may even be a spotlight. FaceTime will help one-on-one chats with real looking avatars that includes a person’s precise face and physique, whereas multi-person chats will use Memojis.
Rumored Key Options:
- Twin 4K microOLED shows with 5,000 nits brightness and 4000 pixels per inch.
- Over a dozen cameras for monitoring facial expressions, hand gestures, and mapping the setting.
- Iris scanning authentication.
- Digital and augmented actuality capabilities with Digital Crown to swap modes.
- M2 chips, together with high-end foremost processor and lower-end processor for sensors.
- xrOS working system with 3D-optimized apps and choice to run current iPad apps.
- Air typing and hand gesture-based controls.
- Exterior battery pack worn on the hip.
15-Inch MacBook Air
Apple is lastly planning to supply two variations of the MacBook Air, with a 15.5-inch mannequin that may be part of the present 13.6-inch model.
Sadly, next-generation 3-nanometer M3 chips aren’t prepared for launch, so the brand new 15-inch MacBook Air will use the identical M2 chips Apple launched final yr.
We aren’t anticipating any design adjustments other than the bigger show, and high-end options like a 120Hz refresh fee will stay restricted to the MacBook Professional.
Rumored Key Options:
- Show measurement round 15.5 inches.
- Design and have set just like the present M2 MacBook Air.
- M2 chips inside, with Apple seemingly providing 8-core and 10-core GPU variants. M3 chips usually are not anticipated.
Mac Studio
In line with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is at present testing desktop Macs that characteristic M2 Extremely and M2 Max chips. It is trying like these desktop Macs may very well be a brand new model of the Mac Studio, and whereas Gurman didn’t explicitly say these machines will come at WWDC, it’s undoubtedly implied.
Gurman has confirmed that Apple will introduce a number of Macs at WWDC. One would be the 15-inch MacBook Air, and proof factors to a refreshed Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Extremely chips because the second machine. Except for new M2 chips, we aren’t anticipating main adjustments to the Mac Studio because it was simply launched final yr and nonetheless has a recent design.
Software program
WWDC is historically an occasion centered on new software program releases, and this yr, we’re anticipating iOS 17 and macOS 14, together with the brand new xrOS working system.
iOS 17
iOS 17 is anticipated to supply a number of the “most requested options” which were on customers’ wishlists, and Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has described it as providing high quality of life enhancements.
With iOS 16, Apple launched a brand new Lock Display screen expertise with widgets and customization, and the corporate might add much more performance in iOS 17. Gurman says there will probably be a characteristic to show the iPhone right into a “smart-home show” that may function a house information hub when it is positioned in a horizontal orientation on a charger or a stand.
It should present info like calendar appointments, climate information, notifications, and HomeKit information, providing an interface just like what you would possibly get with an Echo Present or Google Nest Hub. Apple might add different performance, comparable to the choice to share customized Lock Screens with others and extra immersive Stay Exercise choices for apps like Maps. We might additionally see iPhone-style Lock Display screen customizations come to the iPad.
Apple is rumored to be overhauling the Management Heart and including extra performance to the Dynamic Island, although we’re gentle on specifics. We predict a devoted journaling app that may let customers observe and file their actions and ideas every day. The app will provide up potential matters {that a} person would possibly wish to write about, and it might presumably combine with a brand new temper monitoring characteristic coming to the Well being app.
Apple plans to convey the Well being app to the iPad this yr, and there may even be just a few different Well being additions like help for eye situations and prescriptions.
There will probably be new options and design updates for the Pockets app, Discover My, and SharePlay, together with enhancements to efficiency, effectivity, and stability. New Accessibility options have already been outlined, and this yr, an entire new CarPlay interface is coming, with performance constructed into iOS 17.
Notably, Apple will introduce help for sideloading apps in Europe, which is able to let European clients get apps outdoors of the App Retailer for the primary time. European regulators have launched a regulation that requires Apple to help sideloading, so it is a characteristic that Apple plans to restrict to Europe quite than implementing worldwide as different international locations don’t mandate App Retailer alternate options.
Rumored Key Options:
- Lock Display screen “Dwelling Hub” show possibility.
- Devoted journaling app for recording day by day actions and ideas.
- Temper monitoring within the Well being app.
- Discover My enhancements.
- Help for sideloading apps in Europe.
- Efficiency, effectivity, and stability enhancements.
xrOS
xrOS is the software program that may run on the headset, and like all of Apple’s platforms, the headset could have its personal App Retailer for downloading apps. Apple has been trademarking the xrOS identify in numerous international locations, and rumors counsel that is the identify that the corporate has settled on.
The software program is anticipated to have an iOS-like interface with on-screen parts managed by hand and eye gestures, although connections to iPhones, iPads, and Macs will probably be potential. On a Mac, for instance, it may function a show possibility, with a mouse and keyboard serving as inputs. The iPhone will be capable of be used for textual content enter and maybe different capabilities.
Apple is growing devoted apps for the headset, and dealing with third-party media firms and gaming firms to have devoted 3D content material for the machine. There are re-imagined variations of a number of inventory apps like Maps, Safari, Pictures, and FaceTime, and there will probably be a particular give attention to TV content material like sports activities, gaming, and communication via FaceTime.
Together with devoted apps, the headset is anticipated to run iPad apps in some capability, so there will probably be a catalog of content material at launch. These will not be full 3D experiences, however will as an alternative present the iPad apps in 2D in a 3D setting.
Apple is creating a strong set of developer instruments with the hopes of encouraging builders to create apps and video games optimized for an AR/VR interface.
Rumored Key Options:
- iOS-like design.
- Managed via hand and eye gestures.
- Choice to connect with Mac to function a Mac’s show.
- Can run iPad apps.
- Commonplace inventory Apple apps optimized for 3D.
- FaceTime with real looking avatars.
- TV and sports activities focus with partnerships with firms like Disney.
macOS 14
macOS 14 is the next-generation software program that may run on the Mac, however sadly, we all know little about it right now. Apple has been utilizing California-themed naming for the final a number of years, and a number of the still-available identify choices embrace Rincon, Mammoth, Shasta, Farallon, Diablo, Sequoia, Sonoma, Grizzly, and Redwood. Apple might additionally go along with a reputation that it has not trademarked earlier than, because it did with macOS Excessive Sierra and macOS El Capitan.
macOS 13 is called after Ventura, California, so a spot in or close to Ventura is a candidate if Apple goals for a smaller replace on par with El Capitan and Excessive Sierra.
As for options, we might see the identical journaling app that is coming to iOS, together with the updates to Discover My, SharePlay, and different cross-platform options. There is no phrase but on what Mac-specific options we would get.
watchOS 10
Apple Watch fashions in 2023 aren’t going to get a lot in the best way of updates, with Apple making up for the dearth of {hardware} options with new software program.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has described watchOS 10 as a “pretty in depth improve” for watchOS, with the software program set to introduce notable new options. Widgets will probably be a key a part of the replace, with Apple planning to convey again a widget-focused interface just like the “Glances” view utilized in prior variations of watchOS.
Apple is able to cease focusing as a lot consideration on full apps as most individuals don’t use them, and can as an alternative put at-a-glance info entrance and middle. Widgets will provide up a fast, interactive method for customers to entry key info on the Apple Watch.
Widgets could also be accessible from any watch face, with customers capable of swipe between the out there widget choices, just like how a widget stack works on the iPhone. Apple may additionally let the Digital Crown and Aspect Buttons be customizable, providing up entry to widgets quite than apps or the Dwelling Display screen.
Rumored Key Options:
- Intensive interface adjustments.
- Main give attention to widgets for faster interactions and entry to info.
- Attainable adjustments to grid-based foremost structure.
- Widget stack for watch faces.
tvOS 17 and HomePod Software program 17
Alongside iOS 17, Apple will seemingly introduce new variations of tvOS and the HomePod software program, however these are sometimes gentle on options and fewer of a spotlight than different updates. We do not know what to anticipate from tvOS 17 or HomePod Software program 17 as of but.
Different Bulletins
Together with the entire main product and software program bulletins, we might additionally see iPhone instances, iPad instances, and Apple Watch bands in new summer time colours.
Apple Pay Later, a characteristic that Apple is testing proper now, might see wider availability following WWDC.
Watch Apple’s Keynote
Apple will stream the June 5 WWDC keynote on its Occasions web site, within the Apple TV app on the Apple TV and different gadgets, within the Apple Developer app (the place SharePlay is supported), and on YouTube.
For many who are unable to observe, we’ll have a stay weblog on MacRumors.com and can stay tweet the entire bulletins from the MacRumorsLive Twitter account, so ensure to comply with if you wish to sustain with what is going on on.
We’ll even have in-depth protection of all of Apple’s bulletins all through the day on the MacRumors web site.
Extra Protection
Along with our day by day information protection, we even have a protracted record of devoted roundups and guides the place we hold observe of rumors for upcoming releases, and these are nice to comply with if you cannot sustain with the location every day.
Key Launch Dates
Following the WWDC 2023 keynote occasion on June 5, Apple will launch iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, tvOS 17, and HomePod Software program 17 betas to builders for testing functions. The early launches will enable builders to instantly start working to include new performance into their apps.
Some model of xrOS may additionally be launched instantly as builders will want loads of time to develop apps for the headset forward of its launch.
We might see same-day pre-orders for the 15-inch MacBook Air and another apps which can be introduced, or Apple might await Friday, June 9 to simply accept pre-orders. A launch will seemingly occur round June 16.
As for the headset, we aren’t anticipating it to launch at WWDC. Apple will unveil it, present instruments for builders to design apps, and in the end make it out there on the market later within the yr. It may very well be out there for buy as early as September or as late as December.