WWDC 2023 Summary: iOS 17, Reality Pro Headset, More

WWDC 2023 is days away, and it could be Apple’s biggest and most important event in a decade. At WWDC this year, Apple is expected to introduce iOS 17 for iPhone users and a redesigned interface for watchOS 10 users. VR features, and a new xrOS software platform.

When is WWDC 2023?

WWDC 2023 begins on Monday, June 5. Apple will kick off the week-long event with a special keynote on June 5 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. During this keynote, Apple will announce major updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. It also features the Reality Pro headset and the xrOS software platform.

The WWDC 2023 keynote is expected to be a high-production value, beautiful video shoot of Apple Park and pre-recorded video from several Apple executives and engineers.

This year’s WWDC 2023 will include an in-person component for developers and members of the press. Developers will have the opportunity to attend Monday’s keynote, tour Apple Park and attend special sessions focused on Apple announcements.

Also on June 5, Apple will announce the winners of the Apple Design Awards, and has already announced the list of finalists for this year’s festivities. Following the keynote, Apple will host the Platform State of the Union, which will provide more in-depth information on Apple’s announcements. There will also be a special evening activity that Apple attendees “won’t want to miss.”

How to watch WWDC 2023 from home

For those not at Apple Park, Apple will broadcast all of WWDC live on multiple channels. You can watch the WWDC keynote on Apple’s website, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. This means you can watch on any device, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

The State of the Union will be available for viewing on the Apple Developer app and website at 1:30 pm PT/4:30 pm ET. Apple will also broadcast the Apple Design Awards live on June 5 at 6:30 pm PT/9:30 pm ET.

What to expect at WWDC 2023: iOS 17

First of all, Apple will announce iOS 17 at WWDC this year. This will be the annual major update for iPhone users that will bring new features, changes, bug fixes and more. So what’s on the docket for new features for iOS 17? Here’s what the rumor says.

A new journaling appThe app will reportedly integrate with Apple’s Find My app to create a “smart” journaling app with several location-based features.

New “Smart Display” modeFor the iPhone 14 Pro series, Apple is planning new features for the always-on display. iOS 17 will reportedly include a new horizontal interface for the always-on lock screen that can display things like calendar appointments, weather forecasts, and notifications.

New health app featuresWith iOS 17, Apple is said to add new mood and emotion tracking features. These allow users to log their feelings on a daily basis, answer specific questions each day, and track their results over time. The health app is said to get new features to manage vision conditions, such as the ability to store contact information and eyeglass prescription information.

Sideloading and third-party app stores: In response to regulatory pressure in the European Union, Apple is preparing to open the iPhone to third-party app stores and sideloading for the first time. This allows iPhone users to install from sources other than Apple’s own Apple Store. These features are rumored to be included as part of iOS 17, but are only available in the European Union.

Updates to the Wallet app: according to BloombergApple is preparing “significant” changes to the Wallet app as part of iOS 17. No further details are yet available on what these changes will entail.

AirPlay and SharePlay: Apple is making improvements to SharePlay as part of iOS 17. The company is working to expand AirPlay to more places, including hotels.

Rumors aside, Apple likely has other new iOS 17 features in the works. The company is generally good at keeping most of its software details from leaking. This means there’s always a surprise at WWDC keynotes when Apple announces new features and changes.

Learn more in our complete guide to iOS 17.

iPadOS 17

For iPad users, Apple will announce iPadOS 17 at WWDC this year. In the current situation, the rumors about what to expect from iPadOS 17 are very simple. The most realistic rumor we have heard so far BloombergiPadOS 17 will reportedly include a Health app. This will be the first time Apple has expanded its health app beyond the iPhone.

There are a handful of other features that look promising for iPadOS 17 this year. In particular, we expect Apple to bring the Lock Screen customization options that first came to the iPhone as part of iOS 16 to the iPad this year. We’ll see the iOS 17 Journal app come to the iPad with iPadOS 17.

macOS 14

Similar to iPadOS 17, there aren’t many rumors about what’s coming this year as macOS 14. The update includes some new features from iOS 17, such as some integration with the new Journal app and access to new My features.

watchOS 10

Next at WWDC 2023, Apple will announce watchOS 10 for Apple Watch. This is expected to be a major upgrade for Apple Watch with a completely new user interface. according to BloombergMark Gurman, watchOS 10 will be a “reasonably broad update” focused on “significant changes to the user interface”.

Key to this new design will be a newfound focus on widgets. watchOS 10 is said to use widgets as the “central element” of the Apple Watch software experience. According to the rumor, the new design will be similar to the “widget stack”, which on iPhone and iPad allows users to stack multiple widgets on top of each other and scroll through them.

according to Bloomberg, Apple Watch users can scroll through widgets like activity tracking, weather, stocks, calendar appointments, and more. The new interface is “available as an overlay to any watch face.

Apple’s focus on gadgets may even go so far as to include new functionality for the Digital Crown hardware on the Apple Watch. In the current version of watchOS, pressing the Digital Crown takes you to the Apple Watch home screen. In watchOS 10, however, Apple is trying to open up its new widget interface, the Digital Crown.

Apart from gadgets, watchOS 10 will likely include many of the new features of iOS 17. For example, features such as mood and emotion tracking in health and the Journal app may have some integration with watchOS 10.

Learn more about watchOS 10 in our complete guide.

tvOS 17 for Apple TV and HomePod

There are zero rumors about what to expect for Apple TV and HomePod users at WWDC this year. tvOS 17 is the latest software for Apple TV users, and HomePod software version 17 is available for HomePod and HomePod mini.

15-inch MacBook Air

In terms of new hardware at WWDC, Apple is expected to introduce a new 15-inch MacBook Air. Currently, the MacBook Air is only available in one screen size option at 13.6 inches, marking the first time that Apple has offered its most popular laptop with a larger screen.

according to Bloomberg, the 15-inch MacBook Air has the same screen resolution as the 14-inch MacBook Pro. This means that the same resolution is being stretched to 15 inches, so the display will be slightly less sharp than the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

In terms of performance, the 15-inch MacBook Air is expected to use Apple’s M2 processor and deliver performance “on par” with current M2-powered Macs.

The exact price of the 15-inch MacBook Air is unknown. But given the $500 price difference between the base 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, we expect the 15-inch MacBook Air to carry a $500 price increase over the 13-inch M2 model. This puts the expected price of the 15-inch MacBook Air at around $1,799.

Apple Reality Pro and xrOS

Last but certainly not least, all signs point to Apple introducing its long-awaited Reality Pro headset at WWDC 2023. This headset offers both mixed reality and augmented reality capabilities and features extremely high-end specs and hardware.

Apple’s first Reality Pro headset is expected to be an ultra-premium product priced at around $3,000. It features top-of-the-line specs including an “innovative triple display configuration” with two 4K micro-LED panels. Apple is currently working on an affordable pair of headphones, but it’s not expected to be ready for mass production until at least 2025.

The headset is reported to run on xrOS. The software platform supports a number of features including FaceTime, content consumption, gaming, the ability to build virtual worlds and rooms, and more.

The Reality Pro headset allows users to switch between AR and VR modes, a feature that is not compatible with the xrOS software. The VR mode on xrOS provides a deeply immersive experience. By rotating the digital crown-like switch on the headset itself, xrOS gradually transitions into AR mode so users can see the world around them.

This year at WWDC, Apple will hold several sessions and workshops for developers to expand their understanding of xrOS. This includes things like creating apps for the headset, strategies for bringing apps from other platforms to the headset, design guidelines for immersive virtual reality experiences, and more.

But while Apple will announce its new headset and xrOS at WWDC 2023, it’s not expected to be available for purchase until sometime this year.

Learn more about xrOS in our complete guide.

wrap up

As you can see, WWDC 2023 is shaping up to be a big event for Apple. The event will not only include annual software updates to Apple’s existing updates, but will also introduce Apple’s first new software platform since the Apple Watch in 2014.

Keep it locked. 9 to 5 Mac To get full coverage leading up to the event. We’ll also be there all week for WWDC 2023. What are you most excited to see at WWDC 2023? Let us know in the comments below.

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