The upcoming Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is expected to be one of the biggest ever. After years of rumors and leaks, Apple can finally take the wraps off its mixed reality headset, ushering the company into a new product category and giving the world its first look at its attempt to prove that virtual reality is worth it. is invested.
There’s also sure to be a lot more: operating system updates, new apps and features, and possibly new hardware. Here, we’ve rounded up details on how and when you can watch the WWDC keynote, as well as some of the announcements we’re expecting from Apple.
When is the WWDC 2023 keynote?
Apple has confirmed that this year’s WWDC keynote is scheduled for Monday, June 5 at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. It will be held as a digital and in-person event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, with Apple CEO Tim Cook expected to kick things off. You can see the full WWDC lineup here.
Where can I watch WWDC?
Apple will stream the WWDC keynote live from its website and YouTube channel. You can also watch the stream embedded at the top of this article. If you can’t watch the keynote live, you can always tune in to the pre-recorded version that Apple will post on YouTube after it airs.
With that said, let’s get into some of the biggest announcements we expect Apple to make during WWDC.
The debut of Apple’s long-rumored mixed reality headset
Apple’s mixed reality headset is perhaps one of the company’s most exciting products in years. While Apple hasn’t even confirmed its existence yet, reports suggest that it will be able to provide both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
The headset will likely exist as a standalone device equipped with a battery pack that connects to the headset using a proprietary cable. As for its technical specifications, it is rumored to feature an M2 chip with 16GB of RAM. Meanwhile, supply chain analyst Ross Young says the device could feature two 1.41-inch Micro OLED screens with 4,000 ppi each. Young adds that the displays are capable of over 5,000 nits of brightness and that users should be able to see 4K resolution with each eye.
So far, reports suggest that Apple has been busy creating VR versions of some of its own apps, including Safari, FaceTime, Apple TV, Apple Books, Freeform, and more. It may also come with a feature that allows the headset to function as an external display for your Mac. With an expected price tag of around $3,000, Apple’s headphones won’t come cheap. While Apple is also rumored to be working on more affordable versions of the device, we probably won’t see them at this year’s event.
There are already signs that Apple may be planning to reveal its ‘Reality Pro’ headset at WWDC, as the company sent out an invitation to a VR-focused in-store editor Upload VR. Apple also posted an AR teaser on its site that shows a thin, film-like Apple logo with the WWDC date wherever you point the camera on your iPhone or iPad.
The WWDC reveal doesn’t mean we should expect the headset to ship anytime soon. Bloomberg previously reported that Apple may focus on directing developers to the device in June, but wait until later in the year to ship it. This corresponds to The informationThe report, which claims a “fall or winter” launch date is likely.
Brand new 15-inch MacBook Air
Apple is also expected to release a larger 15-inch option for the MacBook Air, a device that has long featured a standard 13-inch display. We first heard about the device last year, and more detailed rumors have piled up since then.
The 15-inch MacBook Air will likely come with the internal M2 chip used in the MacBook Air models released last year. As noted in a report by Bloombergit may also feature the same 3024 x 1964 resolution as the 14-inch MacBook Pro, though the screen may be a bit less sharp because there’s an extra inch of space to fill.
Along with the MacBook Air, Gurman says Apple is preparing to release “several new Macs,” but it’s unclear exactly which ones. The company is rumored to be working on a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac, all of which could come with a new M3 chip. Apple is also preparing to expand its trade-in program to include the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, and Mac Studio on June 5. according to Gurmanwhich could signal that new devices are on the way.
New features for iOS, iPadOS and macOS
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales/The Verge
WWDC is a developer event, which means we’re bound to see some updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and more.
This includes the unveiling of iOS 17, which is rumored to come with various smaller quality-of-life updates. Apple has already previewed the suite of accessibility features likely to arrive with the new operating system, including a Personal Voice tool that lets users create a synthetic voice with 15 minutes of training. iOS 17 may also introduce a feature that turns the iPhone’s lock screen into a smart home display when tilted horizontally, according to Bloomberg.
Apple is also expected to include some updates to Stage Manager in iPadOS 17, the multitasking interface that my colleague David Pearce said “still doesn’t work” even after Apple officially released it last October. However, the updates seem to be more on the technical side of things and less on its general functionality.
Not much is known about what’s in store for macOS 14 and tvOS 17, but Apple is reportedly giving watchOS 10 a pretty big update that adds a new widget-rich interface.
Mental health focused diary app for iPhone
Speaking of iOS 17, a report from The Wall Street Journal indicates that Apple will release a new journaling app for the iPhone that will let you record your thoughts and activities throughout the day.
It can also provide suggestions for topics to write about and offer “All Day People Discovery” to keep track of who you’re spending time with, and even detect when you’re doing something you don’t normally do on a given day. Although Apple is expected to reveal the app at WWDC, the company is likely to release it in the fall.
Opening up Apple’s closed ecosystem
Apple’s time is running out to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Although some of the rules have already come into effect, digital gatekeepers such as Apple have until March next year at the latest to allow users to download third-party app stores and sideload apps within the EU, something which Apple strongly opposed for security reasons.
That’s why it wouldn’t be a big surprise if Apple used WWDC to preview some of the changes it’s making to its iPhone and iPad ecosystems. (Or at least quietly inform the developers that the change is coming.) According to BloombergApple is looking to “rework” iOS to comply with European regulators.
In addition to allowing sideloading, speculation is rife that Apple may no longer require third-party browsers to use Apple’s own WebKit engine, which would allow for more differentiation in mobile browsers. The company may also open up access to its NFC chip, which is currently limited to Apple services like Apple Wallet and Apple Pay.
What’s next for Apple?
Apple has a lot of new Macs, and while we don’t expect them all to show up at WWDC, it’s always a possibility. In addition to the upcoming MacBooks we mentioned earlier, we know Apple is working on a Mac Pro with Apple’s in-house chip, an updated 24-inch iMac, and two new Mac Studio models.
We’re also keeping an eye on Apple’s next move in artificial intelligence. Although the company has remained relatively quiet about its AI ambitions, the company’s job postings indicate that it is looking to hire people who specialize in the field. It also recently restricted employees from using ChatGPT due to data leakage concerns, raising the question of whether it will build its own AI system for workers like Samsung.
Of course, we can also look forward to the launch of the iPhone 15 later this year. Rumors suggest that this time around, all iPhone 15 models will ship with Dynamic Island (not just the Pro) and may also feature a USB-C charging port (thanks to yet another EU regulation). However, that will have to wait until September.
Update May 23, 12:08 a.m. ET: Updated to add information about the full WWDC lineup.
Update May 24, 5:19 PM ET: Updated to add a rumored iOS 17 feature that could turn the iPhone’s lock screen into a smart home-style display.
Update May 26, 9:39 a.m. ET: Updated to add information about Apple’s WWDC invitations.
Update May 30, 12:36 PM ET: Updated to add Apple trade-in program rumors and an AR easter egg.
Update May 31, 8:58 a.m. ET: Updated to add info on potential headset tech specs.
Update May 31, 5:20 PM ET: Updated to add that Apple may be planning to unveil “several new Macs.”
Update June 1, 5:05 a.m. ET: Updated to add expected full launch date for mixed reality headset.
Update June 2, 11:57 a.m. ET: Updated to add more details on the mixed reality headset.