WWDC 2023 rumors: Reality Pro headset, new Macs, and more | Digital Trends

Ever since Apple’s iPhone 14 launch show in 2022, rumors have swirled that the company was due to host a massive spring event. But with Apple now announcing that the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be its next show, those plans have fallen by the wayside — and mean that a bunch of expected devices, from Macs to a mixed-reality headset, are seemingly long overdue.

With WWDC taking place on June 5, there’s not long to wait to see what the company will unveil. And given rumors have pointed to both a mixed-reality headset and a brand-new Mac Pro, among other products, it could be one of the most momentous events in Apple’s recent history. If you’re wondering what else is in the cards, you’re in the right place. Let’s see what’s next on Apple’s 2023 calendar

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Reality Pro mixed-reality headset

After years of delays, the rumors surrounding Apple’s mixed-reality headset are gaining momentum. Apple has bided its time and watched its rivals launch their own devices, from the Meta Quest Pro to the HTC Vive XR Elite, and apparently now feels that now is the right time to step into the fray. On that note, numerous rumors have outlined that Apple is planning to reveal its secretive, long-awaited device at WWDC in June.

Thanks to a massive leak from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, we now know almost everything we can expect from the headset, which will purportedly be called Reality Pro. The device will likely come with a plethora of impressive specs, including high-resolution displays, hand- and eye-tracking capabilities, a large array of cameras, and a much more lightweight design than its competitors. There will also be a switch resembling the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown that will let you swap between virtual reality and augmented reality.

Given all that tech, a price of around $3,000 has been suggested. That would be expensive, yet Apple will apparently sell each unit at a loss, according to Gurman. That says a lot about how packed with high-end tech the device could be. Apple is reportedly planning a cheaper version that will have a price tag closer to $1,500, but that’s not expected to launch until 2024 or 2025.

But hold your horses — there’s a chance the Reality Pro won’t actually make it to WWDC after all. While most in the tech world seem convinced of a June launch date, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has demurred, saying that Apple is not confident it can create an “iPhone moment” with its headset. As a result, the company has apparently postponed the device’s launch to a later date. Other reports have claimed Apple employees are worried about the Reality Pro’s prospects and even that it could be a “high-profile flop.” With all that negative press, perhaps Apple has decided now is not the right time to introduce its headset to the world.

Whether or not Kuo’s report is accurate remains to be seen. But without the Reality Pro headset, WWDC will feel much emptier. Will Apple even feel it’s worth doing the show with just a couple of products? We’ll have to wait and see.

Apple silicon Mac Pro

Almost every Mac has at least one model powered by an Apple silicon chip — except the Mac Pro. We know a new version is coming because Apple admitted as much at its Peek Performance event in March 2022. With that show taking place over a year ago, though, the Mac Pro’s upgrade must be imminent. And it’s unlikely to arrive alone — if there’s a new Mac Pro, there could be a new Pro Display XDR monitor as well.

The long wait means the Mac Pro is almost a certainty for WWDC. Yet after waiting so long, it could be a disappointing device. According to Gurman, Apple has abandoned its M2 Extreme chip that was made specifically for the Mac Pro, while the chassis is going to remain the same as the current model. Meanwhile, there will be no upgradeable graphics options and no upgradable memory, which could make the Mac Pro a hard sell given its sky-high price.

15-inch MacBook Air

Apple hasn’t strayed from the familiar MacBook Air formula of either 11-inch or 13-inch sizes. That could soon change, though, as there are strong rumors that Apple has a larger 15-inch model in the works.

More specifically, the 15-inch MacBook Air will supposedly get a 15.5-inch display, according to industry analyst Ross Young. Most of the other details are shrouded in mystery for now, but we anticipate the device to be very similar to the existing 13-inch MacBook Air in almost every way.

That means we should expect the same chassis design, the same display (only larger), and the same M2 chip. There’s a chance the 15-inch model will get an M2 Pro chip, but that’s still up in the air (sorry). The rumors are pointing toward this coming later in the year, but you never know — depending on what chip it uses, that could change.

New 27-inch display

When Apple launched the Mac Studio, it also revealed a companion monitor called the Studio Display. While it’s certainly impressive, it’s missing a few features that would really take it to the next level. That could change at the spring event.

Analyst Ross Young believes Apple has a new monitor up its sleeve that will boast both Mini-LED and ProMotion technologies. Those features are absent in both the Studio Display and the much more expensive Pro Display XDR and could make the new monitor an irresistible prospect for its target audience.

Operating system updates

As the name suggests, WWDC is a developer-focused event, which means it comes with a heavy focus on software. Not only will Apple be hosting hands-on learning events for developers throughout the week, but it will showcase the latest versions of its operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

So far, things have been very quiet on this front, and there are not a lot of hints about what Apple could unveil at its event. The one exception is watchOS, with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman saying it could receive a “notable” update. While Gurman doesn’t have specifics, he indicates the change could be due to last year’s heavy emphasis on Watch hardware (including the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra).

Aside from that, Gurman has hinted that iOS 17 could come with several features that have been heavily requested by users, although he didn’t go into detail on what those features might be. Previously, iOS 17 was expected to be something of a ‘bug fix’ update, but it’s good to hear it could come with a smattering of new features.

Why so little in the way of new software features? It’s thought that Apple is spending a lot of time and resources developing the operating system for its mixed-reality headset, and that has pulled attention away from its other software efforts. The Reality Pro’s operating system is apparently called xrOS, and could offer features such as gesture control and eye-tracking. It would also have to power both the augmented reality and virtual reality features of the headset. All that means Apple’s software engineers have a lot on their plates — which, unfortunately, means it’s unlikely to be the most exciting year for the company’s other operating systems.

What’s not coming to the event?

Since the start of 2023, Apple has already launched a bunch of products through press releases. That includes the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, a refreshed Mac mini, and a relaunched HomePod.

That means the potential roster for WWDC is looking a little thinner. There are still plenty of potential devices that could be announced, though — alongside Apple’s slate of operating systems — so there’s still a lot to look out for.

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