Apple
WWDC 2023: will Apple’s headset steal the spotlight?
As WWDC approaches, excitement builds for Apple’s potential headset unveiling, signaling the arrival of the next generation of their products.
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Media invitations are out for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The keynote kicks off on Monday, June 5, at 10 am Pacific time, and although Apple has remained secretive, expectations are high.
WWDC is always a highlight for Apple fans. Last year, Apple announced the 13-inch MacBook Pro, iPadOS 16, and a slew of developer tools to make building iPhone apps easier.
You can expect some similarly big announcements this year, though nothing is certain yet. Here’s a look at the biggest rumors surrounding WWDC 2023.
Headset rumors
Most of the excitement around WWDC this year centers around one thing: the rumored mixed-reality headset. As Meta’s Quest line has taken off, industry insiders and tech fans alike have talked about an Apple alternative.
Official details — in true Apple fashion — are sparse, but that hasn’t stopped people from guessing.
Mixed reality — a combination of both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) — would set the headset apart from the competition.
People also expect it to be slimmer and lighter than most headsets, with OLED displays to improve the visuals. Unlike most of the Quest headsets, Apple’s rumored Reality One gear will likely be business-grade, with a price tag of around $3,000.
With 36.2 million Americans expected to work from home in 2025, a business-grade VR headset seems reasonable.
Mixed reality would help meet that demand, too, as it would let people work with in-person colleagues and remote coworkers simultaneously.
A new MacBook Air and Mac Pro
WWDC normally centers around software, but the hardware rumors this year go beyond the mixed-reality headset. More specifically, people are expecting a new MacBook Air and Mac Pro.
A 13-inch screen has been standard for MacBooks so far, apart from a few smaller variants. However, people expect Apple to announce a 15-inch model this year. The new laptop should use Apple’s M2 chip, with newer M3 options coming in the future.
Some people also think Apple could announce a new Mac Pro. Apple’s desktops don’t get a lot of love, with the last update coming at WWDC 2019 and the one before that coming out in 2013.
Given that gap, it could be time for a new high-end computer, but this one’s less likely than the other rumored hardware announcements.
Software updates
The less exciting but more likely announcements are all software-related. Chief among them is iOS 17, which should have some cool new features.
A “smart display” that turns your lock screen into a smart home-type control center. Rumors also suggest iOS 17 will add more interactive widgets, Health app support, and a more user-friendly Wallet.
A new watchOS could also come out. WatchOS 10 would overhaul the home screen to make it more intuitive and introduce customizable buttons and interactive widgets.
A new OS for
Keep your eyes peeled for more WWDC updates
WWDC is just around the corner, and with it could come the next generation of Apple products.
If you want to learn more about the headset, new MacBook, or any other rumored updates, keep your eyes open. Hard information will be here before you know it.
Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.
Editors’ Recommendations:
- Apple sets stage for WWDC 2023 with June 5 date
- Don’t expect to see Apple’s AR/VR headset at WWDC 2023
- Apple is rumored to add a Pixel-like feature to iPhones with iOS 17
- Apple AR headset reportedly leaps and bounds ahead of rivals
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David Dzidzikashvili
June 9, 2023 at 8:33 am
The WWDC23 Apple event delivered few unexpected surprises in terms of new apple product lineup and upgrades vs prior gen. The biggest surprise of all was seeing Mac Studio getting an upgrade together with Mac Pro and without offering any differences.
M2 Ultra chip on both models…So what are the users paying the extra $3k? Seems like the extra $3K price tag on Mac Pro vs Ultra is just for the extra internal PCIe slots? This is a very costly mistake Apple is making! Marketing-wise how do you differentiate the two?
That’s how Apple is making serious financial and strategic mistake here with such a lineup by risking cannibalizing their most high-end product – Mac Pro and seriously undermine Mac Pro sales in 2023/2024. This was a great day for Mac Studio as there is no need to buy Mac Pro unless you need to have those internal PCIe slots. But, If a user needs an extra expansion and slots, that user can just purchase the older intel-based Mac Pro. It’s much cheaper, more practical and makes more sense to do..
For the new Mac customers in 2023-24, they will be better off with buying the cheaper Mac Studio that runs on the same chip, same specs and cores as Mac Pro. That’s why upgrading Mac Studio this time was a shock to many of us as we did not expect it this time.
Overall, Apple’s desktop product segment at the WWDC23 seemed a bit chaotic and we have not seen any major iMac updates yet. Apple needs to better streamline their processes to make sure they keep timely updating the tech that sells well and generates them big profits + keeps them loyal & dedicated fan base.