Apple’s WWDC is scheduled for Monday. Traditionally, the big developer-focused event has been where the company gives us a first look at new software for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs. But sometimes we also get new hardware.
This year looks set to be the last, with plenty of rumors swirling around the tech giant’s mysterious augmented reality headset, a new 15-inch MacBook Air, and the long-teased Apple Silicon-powered Mac Pro.
While there’s still some time until Tim Cook takes the stage and makes things official, here’s what we’re expecting in the June 5th keynote.
When is WWDC?
The Apple icon for SwiftUI.
This year’s WWDC will be held from June 5 to 9. The keynote is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT) on Monday.
As in past years, Apple will stream the keynote on its website.
what do we expect
Apple handset
The biggest rumor at this year’s WWDC is, of course, Apple’s headphones. Rumored to run on a new “XROS”, the device can use mixed reality, a combination of virtual reality and augmented reality. It could have eye and hand tracking, high-resolution displays, and… a potential $3,000 price tag.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently detailed how Apple plans to include sports, gaming, exercise and iPad apps in the headset to show what the new platform can do. Whether that’s enough to get users excited and convince them to drop three grand, or for developers to commit to building apps for it, remains to be seen.
MacBook Air 15
The MacBook Air has long been one of Apple’s most popular laptops. Often sold with a 13-inch screen, Apple has experimented with different Airs sizes in the past, including offering an 11-inch model for years. However, rumors these days suggest that the company has a larger, 15-inch M2 powered Air raring. This again comes from Bloomberg’s Gurman, who expects the new laptop to be announced at this year’s event. It is time.
While rumors point to an upcoming announcement, it’s unclear how much Apple might charge for the new Air or how it might fit into the company’s existing MacBook lineup. The 2020 13.3-inch MacBook Air with M1 still sells for $999, while the updated 2022 13.6-inch MacBook Air with M2 starts at $1,199. Meanwhile, the 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499. Could the 15-inch Air fit somewhere in between?
Apple M-Series Mac Pro
2019 Mac Pro.
Oh, Mac Pro. Apple last updated the Mac Pro at WWDC 2019. Despite some teases that confirmed it was working on a new one powered by its Apple Silicon chips, the company has been largely silent about the super-powerful computer. Could the “other day” be June 5th? It’s also possible that Mac Pro fans may want to jump in, but with moderate expectations.
In an April appearance on The MacRumors Show, Gurman, the Apple expert, suggested that it could still appear this year, but not at WWDC.
New software: iOS 17, WatchOS 10 and more
In addition to all the hardware rumors, we can expect Apple to detail the latest updates coming this year for its iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS, and tvOS platforms.
Among the bigger changes to iOS, Apple may finally add support for installing apps that aren’t downloaded from the App Store. The iPhone maker has long resisted opening up its mobile software to allow side charging, but new European regulations may have forced it.
Other software changes Apple could introduce include a new mental health app, as well as widgets returning to the Apple Watch. Bloomberg also reported that Apple may turn locked iPhones into smart displays with iOS 17.
For more, check out our expectations for WatchOS 10 and iOS 17. Plus, every feature we think Apple should steal from Android 14.
Watch this: Why Apple needs a 15-inch MacBook Air
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