Since Apple never talks about new products before announcing them, it’s impossible to know exactly what to expect in its 2023 pipeline. But certain devices tend to arrive around the same time each year, giving possible clues as to what to expect. Leaks and rumors also paint a picture of potential gadgets we could see in 2023, such as Apple’s long-rumoured “mixed reality” headset.
If reports prove accurate, 2023 could mark several firsts for Apple’s lineup. For example, we see the company’s first AR/VR headset, the first iPhone with USB-C, and the first 15-inch MacBook Air. As for other products like AirPods, Apple TV, and the iPad, Bloomberg reports that we are unlikely to see any major changes to these product lines this year.
The debut of a mixed reality headset would signal an entirely new product category for Apple, while the other updates suggest Apple is continuing to tweak its devices to compete with Android and Windows competitors that have larger screens and universal USB-C – Offer store.
Video: Beyond the Yellow iPhone: Apple Rumors Hint at New Macs, But When?
In smaller launches as early as 2023, Apple has released a new yellow version of the iPhone 14, an updated HomePod, a Mac Mini with the M2 and M2 Pro chips, and MacBook Pro computers with the new M2 Pro and M2 Max.
Here’s a look at what to expect in 2023 based on Apple’s launches, rumors, and leaks so far. Apple has not responded to a request for comment on this story.
iPhone 15 lineup
From left to right: the iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
Apple usually releases new iPhones in September, and this year is likely to be no different. One of the key changes we expect to see in the iPhone 15 is the move from the Lightning charge port to USB-C. That’s because there are new rules that require tech products sold in Europe to support USB-C by 2024. However, it’s unclear if Apple will fully embrace the transition to USB-C across the iPhone 15 lineup, or if it will create a region. specific model for Europe.
Another potential update could include the introduction of Dynamic Island on standard non-Pro iPhone 15 models, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, tweeted in September. At the same time, Apple could add other features to the iPhone 15 Pro that set it apart from the base models. Those features could include a new periscope camera with better optical zoom for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and solid-state buttons for both Pro phones, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple AR/VR Headset
Apple is set to release a mixed reality headset later this year.
James Martin/CNET
Apple’s long-awaited mixed reality headset could finally make its debut in June, according to Bloomberg, marking Apple’s first major expansion into a new product category since the Apple Watch. The headset is said to combine elements of augmented reality, which overlays digital graphics over real-world environments, similar to the smartphone game Pokemon Go, and virtual reality, which wraps users in 360-degree graphics like the $400 Meta Quest 2.
But don’t expect Apple’s headset to be cheap. The device could cost $3,000 and run a new type of software that’s essentially a 3D version of the iPhone interface, Bloomberg reports. Expect it to be powered by Apple’s M2 chip found in the current line of MacBooks, the report said.
Tech giants from Meta to Sony to Microsoft have all dabbled in virtual or augmented reality. But there’s an expectation that Apple’s first VR product could popularize the technology, given the company’s long history of success with other products.
“I think Apple will be of great help to the market, much like it has done with, let’s face it, smartphones, tablets and smartwatches,” said Ramon Llamas, research director at International Data Corporation.
Apple watch series 9
The Apple Watch Ultra (left) and Apple Watch Series 8 (right) were both launched last year.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Like clockwork, Apple usually launches new Apple Watch models alongside its new iPhones in the fall. This year, however, we may see a more modest update than usual. Bloomberg reports that we shouldn’t expect any major changes to the Apple Watch this year. What that means is unclear, but it’s possible the watch will feature routine updates like performance improvements rather than significant new health-monitoring features.
That’s in line with the pattern Apple has been following for the past several years. Aside from the addition of temperature tracking and car crash detection, the Apple Watch Series 8 is very similar to the Series 7. Apple has also introduced more new features through software updates than hardware changes in recent years, such as B. the ability to track sleep stages that arrived in WatchOS 9. However, I’m hoping the Series 9 inherits some features from the Apple Watch Ultra, most notably the handy action button that makes it easier to jump straight into a workout.
There haven’t been many rumors or reports as to whether updated Apple Watch SE or Ultra models can be expected in 2023. However, since Apple doesn’t always release special-edition products on a yearly cadence, it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple skipped those updates this time.
A new iMac
The 2021 iMac with Apple’s M1 chip.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Fans of Apple’s colorful all-in-one computer have something to look forward to this year. The company’s next iMac is in an advanced stage of development, which means it could launch in the second half of this year, according to Bloomberg. The refreshed computer will likely run on Apple’s rumored M3 processor, which would be an evolution of the M2 chip that powers the current MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. It will have a 24-inch screen like the 2021 edition and come in the same color options, but will feature some internal design changes, according to the report.
Mac Pro with M2 Ultra
The Mac Pro 2019 on stage alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Screenshot by Alexandra Able/CNET
Apple is also preparing a new version of its top-of-the-line Mac Pro, according to Bloomberg, which would run on a chip called the M2 Ultra processor, likely a successor to the M1 Ultra. That would be a departure from the current model, which debuted in 2019 and runs on Intel’s Xeon processors. The chip will reportedly have 24 CPU cores, 76 graphics cores and 192 GB of memory.
The $5,999 Mac Pro is Apple’s high-end desktop for professionals. It’s the last remaining Mac in Apple’s current lineup that doesn’t feature proprietary silicon. The report suggests it will launch between late spring and summer, meaning we may see it at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
A 15-inch MacBook Air
The M2 MacBook Air.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Apple’s lightweight laptop will reportedly be available in a 15-inch size for the first time this year. Bloomberg reports that a 15-inch MacBook Air is included in Apple’s 2023 product roadmap, although it’s unclear if that device will run on the company’s expected M3 chip. A new 13-inch MacBook Air is also said to be in the works.
Both of these laptops are also expected to arrive in late spring or summer, so we should be hearing from them in the coming months if Bloomberg’s report is correct.
All in all, the rumors, leaks, and reports suggest that 2023 could be a pivotal year for Apple’s computing lineup. When Apple announces its first mixed reality headset, we get a glimpse of the company’s vision for the future of computing. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been vocal about the potential he sees for augmented reality, but we haven’t seen dedicated Apple hardware to deliver those experiences yet. The introduction of Apple silicon in the Mac Pro would also mark the completion of Apple’s transition to its homegrown Mac chips within its current lineup.
