Apple’s WWDC 2023 to feature Reality Pro headset, new MacBooks, and major OS updates

Mark Gurman, in this weeks’s Power On newsletter, lists a number of things he expects Apple to introduce, or at least mention, in this years WWDC conference in early June. The conference is set to be a consequential event for the company, allowing them to both introduce a new post-iPhone era device and make existing devices more attractive. The highlight of the show is expected to be the mixed-reality headset, Reality Pro, but other products will also be revealed, such as new Mac laptops and the first major update to the Apple Watch’s software since 2015, potentially featuring a new interface. Reality Pro — the first major new Apple product category in nearly a decade — will feature a new xrOS operating system and software development kit. New releases of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14, are also expected. The versions of iOS and iPadOS won’t have major new features, but they should include minor improvements. With the Reality headset, in particular, Apple is preparing for a future beyond the iPhone and iPad, and the weeklong conference will highlight the headset’s App Store and accompanying tools.

The new Mac models will come either this year or in early 2024 and include a 15-inch MacBook Air, a 13-inch MacBook Air, a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a 24-inch iMac, the first Mac Pro with in-house chips, updated high-end MacBook Pro models, and two Mac Studio follow-ups. The headset is not likely to go on sale for several months after its unveiling, giving developers time to create mixed-reality apps and services.

The WWDC keynote will be an extensive presentation, and the announcements should set the stage for hardware releases coming later. Furthermore, Apple is already working on two follow-up models for the headset: a more powerful version and a more accessible product for consumers.