The Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins on June 5 at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, is traditionally the stage for Apple‘s various software platforms to shine. New versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS are almost certainly on the way.
This year, though, Apple is largely expected to introduce an entirely new product category, beginning with a mixed reality headset, most likely dubbed the Reality Pro, and the accompanying, new xrOS.
Reality Pro and xrOS
This one has been a long time in the making. Indeed, there were solid speculations that Apple might unveil the mixed reality headgear at last year’s WWDC, but the firm remained mum on the subject.
Reality Pro is the most likely moniker for Apple’s mixed reality (or virtual/augmented reality, depending on your point of view) headset. However, based on what we’ve heard, it will be considerably different from Apple’s regular product premieres. For starters, it will be pricey (about $3,000) and mostly targeted at developers. According to sources, it will not be as sleek as we’ve come to expect from Apple goods; it will be lightweight and comfortable, but it will have to link to an external battery via a cable.
MacBook Air 15
This is a massive one, both metaphorically and physically. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will unveil a 15-inch MacBook Air at WWDC, marking the first time Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop sports a display larger than 13.3 inches. The possibility of a 15-inch Air is an oxymoron, given the fundamental essence of that product has always been that it is incredibly portable, which a 15-inch laptop is not. Excuse us if we’re skeptical, but if it does happen, we’re quite interested to see how Apple has put it together.
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iOS 17
Unlike the gadgets stated above, we are confident that a new iOS will be released. The WWDC is a developer-focused conference where Apple typically releases new platform versions for them to play with. The most significant of these is the one that powers the iPhone, albeit the changes this year may appear lackluster. This is partly due to the headgear; according to sources, a large portion of what Apple is doing with iOS hinges around interoperability with the impending mixed reality headset.
iOS 17
Apple also revealed the iPad versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, which have been revamped for the first time to work with a touchscreen and Apple Pencil. These are being released a few weeks before WWDC, so Apple is sure to have a lot more in store for the official launch of iPadOS 17 on June 5.
macOS 14
We don’t know what it’ll be called, but like many of its predecessors, we may expect macOS 14 to be named after a renowned California landmark. Apple did trademark many California place names, so you can choose from the list below.
tvOS 17
It often receives relatively little attention in Apple’s WWDC announcements, with most updates being modest.
watchOS 10
According to reports, Apple will refocus on widgets and make them a “central” feature of the watchOS experience. The best way to visualize this is to look at the Siri watch face, which is now available on Apple Watch. It has a collection of cards that you can navigate through with the Watch’s crown, each one representing a different app or feature inside that app. If Gurman is correct, the new Watch interface will be similar, while the old app-centric version may still be available as an alternative.
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When, where, and how to watch the keynote address at WWDC 2023
Knowing what to expect from an Apple conference is useful, but witnessing it live is even more fascinating. On June 5, navigate to Apple’s website (opens in a new tab) to tune in. The event begins at 10 a.m. PT (that’s 1 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. BST, 7 p.m. CEST, or 1 a.m. AWST the following day).
Our preferred browser for streaming Apple keynotes is Safari, however it is possible to do so using other browsers and platforms; for example, Apple often includes a YouTube broadcast as well as a live in its Apple TV app.