Apple is expected to enter the head-mounted wearables market in 2023 with its AR/VR or "mixed reality" headset. It's going to be an exciting year full of firsts and all the hype that comes with a new product category. Here's an overview.
Much of the Mac lineup is getting an overhaul. We're expecting new MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro models. The Mac Pro is particularly in focus, as it hasn't been updated since 2019. All regular products like the Apple Watch and iPhone are getting an update. That means both the iPhone 15 (Pro) and Apple Watch Series 9 will be released. The main change to the iPhone 15 will be the switch to USB-C, as Apple is doing away with the Lightning port. Other features include periscope zoom technology for the iPhone 15 Pro (or Ultra) and an A17 chip. We've rounded up everything we know about Apple's new products in 2023 based on the current rumors - let's get started.
Apple AR/VR headset
Apple has been working on an AR/VR headset for more than five years, and 2023 is the year we expect to see the first version. It will be the first new product category Apple has entered since the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015, and it will be Apple's second wearable. Like the Apple Watch, the first AR/VR headset will be expensive, available in smaller quantities, and may have limited use. AR/VR refers to both augmented and virtual reality, a concept known as "mixed" reality. It combines virtual reality and augmented reality, in some cases overlaying virtual objects on the real world, although most rumors suggest the focus will be on virtual experiences. The AR/VR headset could be called Reality Pro or Reality One—the final naming is not yet clear.
design
Apple's AR/VR headset is expected to look like other VR headsets, with a curved front display that obscures the eyes. The display will sit on the face with a mesh material, and it will have interchangeable and adjustable Apple Watch-like bands. Additionally, the headset is expected to be lighter than most headsets currently on the market to make it more comfortable to wear. It could have physical controls and built-in audio. There will also be multiple cameras that detect gestures, hand and eye movements, and the environment.
display
The mixed reality headset will feature two high-resolution 4K Micro OLED displays with up to 3,000 pixels per inch. There will also be an external display that provides information on external displays.
features
Apple is expected to equip the headset with more than a dozen optical cameras to map the environment, monitor the user, and project visual experiences. In virtual reality apps and games, the headset will be able to capture precise facial movements and reproduce them in video chats and other interactions. Eight of the cameras will reportedly be used for see-through augmented reality experiences. For example, there will be cameras capable of recognizing the people in the room and mapping surfaces and room dimensions to place virtual objects in front of and behind real objects, creating a seamless experience between the real and virtual worlds.
A pair of downward-facing cameras could capture leg movements for more accurate motion tracking. For control, Apple will employ eye tracking, hand gestures, and more. There could also be a component connected to the device, such as an input accessory worn on the fingers. Iris scanning could be used as an authentication and security mechanism similar to Face ID and Touch ID. Inside, it will feature Apple-designed chips comparable to the chips in the MacBook Air. It will include a high-end main processor and a less powerful processor to manage the sensors.
operating system and functionality
The AR/VR headset will run an operating system that could be called xrOS. xrOS stands for the extended reality concept, which includes both the augmented and virtual reality features of the device. Apple is expected to launch an app store for the headset that will focus on gaming, streaming video content, and communications. Apple could work with media partners to create content that can be viewed in VR. There could be a VR FaceTime experience with Animojis that mirror facial expressions. Apple could also work with game developers to create VR games for the headset. Of course, the headset is expected to be closely integrated with existing services like Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. The headset has been in development for several years, and Apple has had to push back the release date several times to overcome design issues and disagreements over the direction of the project. However, 2023 is expected to be the year of launch.
Prices and release date
The AR/VR headset is expected to cost around $3,000. The first version will not be aimed at general consumers but will be positioned as a device for developers, content creators and professionals. Apple could use the Worldwide Developers Conference to unveil the headset so that developers have time to develop apps for the device before it launches in the fall. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had said that the headset could be announced as early as January 2023, but that was probably a bit too optimistic.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone refreshes happen every September and are some of Apple's most reliable product updates. Rumors suggest that Apple will launch the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The latter device could even get a new name - iPhone 15 Ultra, to emphasize its position as the highest-end iPhone. The 6.7-inch iPhone 15 "Pro" model could get features not available in the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro or the two standard iPhone 15 models.
size and design
The iPhone 15 models are expected to be the same sizes (Apple isn't going back to the 5.4-inch iPhone mini), so we can expect two 6.1-inch iPhones and two 6.7-inch iPhones. So far, we haven't heard anything about any really significant design updates. But there are rumors of a new, rounded chassis that resembles the chassis of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models from 2021. There are rumors of a possible titanium chassis for the Pro models, as well as solid-state buttons for the volume and sleep/wake buttons that would resemble the home button on iPhones with Touch ID.
iPhones currently use mechanical buttons that are physically pressed. For such a feature, Apple would have to install two additional Taptic Engines on the sides of the iPhone 15 Pro models. This could actually have advantages, such as additional protection against water ingress. In 2023, all new iPhones are expected to have the Dynamic Island, which is currently limited to the iPhone 14 Pro models.
USB-C
There is speculation that Apple will move away from Lightning and instead adopt USB-C, the same connector already used on Macs and iPads. USB-C will enable universal charging for a majority of Apple devices and could also enable faster charging speeds on some models. The iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to support either USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt for data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gb/s. However, this will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro. The standard iPhone 15 models will continue to feature USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps.
periscope camera
But that's not all. Periscope camera technology is expected to be the most significant update for the iPhone 15 models. However, the periscope lens could be limited to the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 "Pro" or "Ultra," depending on the naming scheme. Rumors suggest that only the larger, high-end iPhones will have the space for the periscope lens technology, which is a zoom lens technology. The periscope lens will replace the telephoto lens and enable improved optical zoom. It is believed that Apple will introduce 6x optical zoom, compared to 3x on the current iPhone 14 Pro models.
Is Apple increasing the optical zoom?
With 6x optical and digital zoom, the iPhone 15 Ultra could have one of the superzoom features also available in Android smartphones. Samsung, for example, enables up to 100x digital zoom with its 10x optical zoom sensor. Apple is expected to adopt Sony's image sensor for the iPhone 15 models, which is designed to improve both under- and overexposure with more light. The sensor will enable improvements in portraits and other images where strong backlighting can be a problem. It is not known whether the new sensor will be used in the entire iPhone 15 range or only in the higher-end iPhone 15 "Pro" models.
A17 chip and RAM
Apple will use the A16 chips for the standard iPhone 15 models. But the iPhone 15 Pro models could get Apple's next-generation A17 chip, the first to be built on TSMC's next-generation 3-nanometer node. The 3-nanometer chip technology will increase processing power by 10 to 15 percent while reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent. The iPhone 15 Pro models could have 8GB of RAM, instead of 6GB like the current iPhone 14 Pro models.
Apple New Products 2023: Macs and External Monitors
Almost the entire Mac lineup is being refreshed, and there are some exciting updates, including a new 15-inch MacBook Air and the first Mac Pro with Apple Silicon.
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is the last remaining Mac that runs entirely on Intel-based chips and hasn't been refreshed since 2019. Apple is working on a new version of the Mac Pro, but development has taken some time as Apple Silicon chips needed to evolve before they could replace Intel's high-end Xeon chips. We're not sure if the Mac Pro will see any significant design changes. Currently, it uses a stainless steel frame and aluminum chassis with interlocking three-dimensional hemispheres for heat dissipation.
What will definitely be new is the Apple Silicon chip technology inside. Apple is expected to use an M2 Ultra chip, an evolution of the M1. It could come with a CPU with up to 24 cores, a GPU with up to 76 cores and up to 192 GB of RAM, possibly more. It is not yet known when exactly the Mac Pro will arrive, but the rumors so far suggest that it could be unveiled early this year, perhaps at a spring event or at WWDC.
14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were not updated in 2022, so they are waiting for an update in 2023. Design changes are not expected, as the last design change occurred in 2021. The updated MacBook Pro models are expected to come with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which are upgrades to the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips used in the previous generation models. Rumors suggest that the M2 Max chip will come with a 12-core CPU and a 38-core graphics processor.
15-inch MacBook Air
The current MacBook Air measures 13.6 inches. But Apple is working on a larger 15-inch version that will be between the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in size. Not much is known about it yet. However, it is likely that the device will have the same design as the MacBook Air 2022, i.e. flat edges, a large Force Touch trackpad, a keyboard with function keys and no fan.
Mac mini
Before the Mac Studio was introduced, it was assumed that the device would be part of the Mac mini family. But that wasn't the case. The Mac Studio won't replace the Mac mini, however - rumors suggest there will be a new Mac mini in 2023. Little is known about the Mac mini, meaning it will likely receive an iterative update rather than a major refresh with a new design. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says we can't expect any design changes with the same form factor, although some rumors say we could see different colors. The Mac mini will use Apple's M2 and M2 Pro chips. The M2 has already been introduced in the MacBook Air while the M2 Pro has yet to be introduced. The timing of the new Mac mini's launch is unclear, but some reports point to the first half of the year.
iMac
The 24-inch iMac hasn't been updated since 2021, so it's due for an update. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, an updated version would likely get Apple's M3 chip but no major design changes. There are also rumors that Apple is working on a larger-screen version of the iMac, which would revive the option of a larger iMac. It's possible that this larger iMac could come with M3 Pro and M3 Max chip options and be an iMac "Pro" that replaces the discontinued 2017 device that never got a successor. Aside from a possible launch date in 2023, we don't know anything about the timeline for a new 24-inch iMac or the debut of a 27-inch iMac.
27-inch monitor
Apple is working on several new monitor options to launch in 2023. One of these displays will be a successor to the high-end Pro Display XDR, the other could be a successor to the Studio Display or something between the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. Display analyst Ross Young says one of the monitors will be 27-inches and will feature mini-LED technology and ProMotion support.
HomePod
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on a new version of the HomePod that will launch in 2023. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the HomePod could be between the original HomePod and the HomePod mini in size. A mid-size HomePod would likely be sold alongside the HomePod mini as a more expensive option, with the speaker expected to feature an integrated touch display and an S8 chip. Rumors suggest Apple is planning to launch the new HomePod in early 2023.
Apple Watch Series 9
Apple updates the Apple Watch every year along with the iPhone. So in 2023 we expect the Apple Watch Series 9. There is no information yet about what it might contain and so far we have not read any rumors about the Series 9. Apple is working on new health sensors to monitor blood sugar levels and blood pressure. But so far these do not seem to be ready for the market. In addition to the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple could also update the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Ultra. But: The Apple Watch SE is usually not updated annually and we do not yet know the update cycle of the Ultra because it is new. So it remains to be seen what Apple will surprise us with this year.
AirPods Max
It's been two years since the AirPods Max were introduced, so a new version could be on the horizon. While there are no rumors of an update, based on the launch timelines so far, the AirPods Max will be the next AirPods to receive an update. A new version of the AirPods Max could adopt features already introduced in the AirPods Pro, such as an H2 chip, improved active noise cancellation, a U1 chip for precision seeking, Bluetooth 5.3, and Adaptive Transparency.
iPad mini and iPad Air
The iPad Air could be unveiled in 2023 with an M2 chip, although we haven't heard any concrete rumors about an update yet. The iPad mini is overdue, as it hasn't been updated since 2021. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that an updated iPad mini with a new chip is expected in late 2023 or early 2024.
Apple News: Software
In addition to the products mentioned above, new software is also expected. This means that Apple will present the next software generation in the summer, i.e. iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS 14. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen what we will actually see from Apple this year. But based on everything we know so far, the year should certainly be exciting. Are you looking for new accessories? Then take a look in our Amazon Storefront - there you will find numerous products from leading providers, also for HomeKit and Co.! (Image: Apple)
