2022 was a stable 12 months for Apple — the iPhone 14 Professional impressed with its Dynamic Island, the AirPods Professional 2 raised the bar for in-ear noise cancelling headphones, the M2 MacBook Air was a slick and svelte makeover for the road, and iOS and macOS updates breathed new life into older gadgets.
However there have been some gaps within the line-up, some MIA options, and a few missed alternatives, too.
The place’s the big-screen M2 MacBook Professionals? The place’s the long-awaited Apple silicon Mac Professional? How about Apple’s classical music app? And what in regards to the near-mythical Apple AR/VR headset, rumored for therefore many, a few years now?
Sure, 2022 was stable — however 2023 could possibly be an all-time nice 12 months for the Cupertino firm, if it’s capable of comply with by means of with some wonderful product refreshes, model new {hardware} and a solution to all these many rumors swirling round its upcoming releases. Right here’s the ten Apple launches we’re most enthusiastic about (probably!) seeing in 2023.
1 — Apple AR/VR headset
That is the large one, so that is the place we’re going to start out. For years now, Apple has been rumored to be making some form of head-mounted, wearable computing machine, with twenty years of patent filings mounting up. 2023 is the 12 months we’re anticipating it to lastly break cowl, with a blended augmented actuality/digital actuality headset coming first, adopted by an AR-focussed pair of glasses following at a later date.
Regardless of many information reviews and rumors, it’s nonetheless a undertaking shrouded in secrecy, however right here’s just a few issues we consider to be set in stone for the machine. The Apple VR machine will make use of top-end A-Collection processors, however with extra energy than ever seen in even a high-end iPhone. Twin Micro OLED shows, with a 3,000ppi sharpness, are considered in place, with dozens of cameras and 3D-sensing modules on board to trace a consumer’s atmosphere and motion-based enter. A brand new working system, proper now codenamed “realityOS” or “xrOS”, will probably be launched, focussing on VR for this machine with some primary augmented actuality options included. It’s set to be the perfect of the perfect of VR computing so far, in response to these within the know, and as such can have a hefty price ticket — anticipate north of $2,000.
With corporations like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta betting the home on high-end {hardware} just like the Quest Professional and an enormous metaverse growth, Apple received’t need to miss having a stake on what stays basically virgin territory for Silicon Valley. As an all-new product space for the corporate, it’s essentially the most thrilling and intriguing potential launch on this record.
2 — 14 and 16-inch M2 MacBook Professional (and possibly a 15-incher, too)
Apple’s new large-screen M2 MacBook Professional computer systems most likely received’t be something to jot down dwelling about. That’s as a result of all indicators level to a tool nearly an identical to the one Apple rolled out in 2021. Which means we are able to anticipate the identical squared design, a number of ports, 120Hz mini-LED shows, and MagSafe charging. It was an awesome design so, certain — if it ain’t broke, do not repair it, at the least not this quickly after that notably crowd-pleasing redesign’s debut.
The massive change is predicted to be the arrival of the brand new M2 chip to the lineup of 14 and 16-inch MacBook Professionals, doubtless in additional highly effective M2 Professional and M2 Max chips we noticed in M1 variants within the older fashions. If the 2022 M2 MacBook Air is something to go by, this might make for some pretty good efficiency positive aspects of round 20% over the M1 model, which is in fact amplified when you think about M2 Professional and Max will mix a number of chips utilizing Apple’s particular unified structure. One characteristic we’d like to see on MacBook is the Dynamic Island. The MacBook Professional already has a notch, so why not adapt it to turn out to be the identical floating island that remodeled the iPhone 14 Professional in 2022?
Maybe a extra thrilling MacBook prospect for 2023 is an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air. Just like the Professional, this most likely received’t be a significant improve when it comes to design and options, with the brand new dimension more likely to be the headline. It could additionally sport one of many extra highly effective M2 chip variants, powered by a a lot bigger battery enabled by the larger kind issue.
3 — Homepod 2
Customers of the unique HomePod have come to like their huge, material lined cylinder of wealthy sound. It’s not exhausting to see why if you use one both: they sound about thrice as huge as they’re, and look fairly phenomenal too. The road is effectively overdue an replace now, nonetheless. The final come out 4 years in the past in 2018, and we’ve solely seen a tiny model launch since then within the HomePod mini. 2023, hopefully, ought to convey us one thing just a little shinier, and just a little newer, with up to date options.
Extra colours is weirdly one of many essential issues to anticipate from a HomePod 2 replace. The HomePod Mini launched in a variety of colours to slide into any dwelling decor. The massive HomePod solely got here in white and black, so some fresh-and-funky colours can be a enjoyable replace. You can too anticipate extra integration with Siri. We expect that the HomePod may effectively turn out to be extra able to answering questions, like different good assistants rivals, too, making the HomePod a greater match in opposition to rivals like Alexa within the Amazon Echo line of audio system. It’s not going that it’s going to look totally different to the present mannequin, though it’s sufficiently old now that Apple may shock us.
With the WiFi streaming aboard the present HomePod, there’s already affordable help for Apple Music Hello-Res Lossless. Bass management may use some work, nonetheless. It’s at the moment very a lot all or nothing, the place you get to decide on between ‘desk shaker’ or ‘the place’s the bass gone?’. Extra linear and progressive management can be good to have, particularly contemplating how good the speaker sounds in any other case.
4 — An all-new Apple TV / Homepod hybrid
One of many coolest components of the HomePod household is their capacity to hyperlink as much as your Apple TV and supply stellar sound to your entire streaming content material. Constructing on this cinematic combo is claimed to be an all-new Apple TV and HomePod 2-in-1 hybrid. Assume a HomePod styled soundbar with an Apple TV inbuilt for a very multi function answer to each sound and TV streaming.
What else may this provide? Nicely, think about that you would join different HomePods to the hybrid. You could possibly pop just a few HomePods Mini audio system across the room for true encompass sound, with the frankly ridiculous quantity of bass they pump out negating the necessity for a subwoofer. It may act as the middle of a front room, given you would stream Apple Music to it as effectively, whereas your TV is off. Who is aware of, Apple might resolve to enter the TV recreation and provide a TV with Apple TV and HomePod inbuilt. It’s an excellent cool concept, and we are able to’t wait to see what Apple might do with it.
5 — Severance season 2 (and extra huge price range Apple TV Plus launches)
What had been the thriller goats about? We should know! It’s a query that — bizarre because it sounds — might be caught within the minds of anybody who watched Apple TV Plus present and breakout hit Severance in its first season in 2022. And, with its return all-but assured for 2023, the sci-fi comedy-drama might lastly convey the reply for Severance season 2. Will the outies and innies ever have the ability to work out what the hell is happening at tech hellscape Lumon? It’ll be a wild journey, both means.
However that’s not all heading to Apple TV Plus for streamers — Steve Spielberg returns to serialised historic warfare for Masters of the Air, Jason Segel and Harrison Ford workforce up for some soul-searching enjoyable in Shrinking, and Henry Cavill sports activities a frankly terrible haircut reverse pop-sensation Dua Lipa in spy-flick-thriller Argyle. That’s simply the tip of the iceberg – it’s going to be an awesome 12 months for Apple TV.
6 — New iOS, macOS, watchOS and iPad OS enhancements
It’s all the time tougher to foretell what’s approaching the software program aspect of issues than the {hardware} line-ups, however one factor we all know for certain — you’re not going to go away 2023 with out a raft of recent options coming to your gear through iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 and watchOS 10.
What are you able to anticipate to see? We’re hoping for a significant revision of Messages in iOS, additional Stage Supervisor enhancements in iPadOS and macOS, and watchOS software program that brings full independence to the wearable without having in any respect for an iPhone.
7 — Apple Classical
We actually had anticipated to see this one in 2022, however alas, nonetheless no signal of Apple’s classical music service. Apple acquired classical streaming service Primephonic again in August of 2021, and it appeared a provided that Apple would both combine the perfect of that app into its personal Apple Music subscription platform, or spin it out right into a classical-specific Apple-branded app of its personal.
From a user-facing perspective, that has not been the case, although you might be certain Apple is placing Primephonic’s experience to make use of behind the scenes. Primephonic had just a few distinctive promoting factors that made it helpful to musicians and listeners alike. Firstly, it had a pay-per-second royalties mannequin, fairly than pay-per-play, for its related artists — essential, provided that classical actions might be for much longer than your common pop track. And Primephonic additionally had an in depth metadata and search system tailor-made to the complexities of classical music, the place totally different conductors and orchestras can recurrently recorded the identical items by the identical composers many occasions over. Right here’s hoping Apple can pull it altogether right into a service of its personal in 2023, provided that its buy of Primephonic noticed the unique app shuttered.
8 — iMac and Mac Professional revisions
We’ve just lately heard that Apple might have pulled the plug on its huge “M2 Excessive” replace for the Mac Professional, however it is going to nonetheless doubtless get a reasonably hefty new processor. We’ve additionally been advised it will likely be about 50% smaller than the present model. This was alleged to drop in 2022 in step with Apple’s two-year Apple silicon transition, however the firm missed the deadline.
We’ve additionally heard rumblings of a brand new M3 iMac to switch the present M1 mannequin, this obtained a superb redesign with M1 and Apple has an awesome platform to construct upon.
A new iMac Professional has been unusually absent from Apple’s plans — once more with the brand new iMac kind issue and Apple silicon, the time has by no means been extra proper for a extra highly effective iMac. We’d like to see some darkish, Professional colours to distinction the brilliant and colourful common iMac line.
9 — AirPods Max 2
The AirPods Max have been round a short time, launching two years in the past in 2020. It’s roughly now once we’d anticipate to see some type of replace from Apple and rumours round a brand new model in 2022 had been rife. Alas, an replace we didn’t obtain, and as an alternative we are able to solely guess and dream at what the brand new pair may characteristic. We are able to guess with some authority, nonetheless, given the updates that got here to the AirPods Professional 2 in direction of the tip of 2022.
The most important replace we predict on the AirPods Max 2 in 2023 is improved noise canceling. The AirPods Professional 2 featured new noise canceling algorithms and microphones, and we predict the identical updates will probably be coming to the AirPods Max 2. Additionally new to the AirPods Professional 2 was the brand new and vastly improved transparency mode. Now that includes countless adjustability and a few very cool tech that blocks out the obnoxiously loud noise whereas feeding you the noise and sounds you want, the brand new transparency mode is nearly like witchcraft. Count on to see it be a part of the AirPods Max 2 characteristic set. Sound high quality is more likely to obtain a bump, though it is unlikely we are able to anticipate an excessive amount of in the best way of the general sound profile being retuned. In different phrases, heat sound lovers rejoice, and audiophiles look elsewhere. Bodily, they’re more likely to stay the identical, with minor beauty updates and probably new earpads.
After all, we’d like another new options on them too. Higher help for Apple Hello-Res Lossless can be good. Whereas it’s (as but) unattainable to feed such a excessive bitrate sign over Bluetooth, it might be good to hear to those tracks over a wired connection at the least — not attainable with the totally-wireless first-gen AirPods Max. Make them lighter as effectively please Apple — they’re just too heavy in the meanwhile. No matter occurs, we predict there ought to be an announcement of the AirPods Max 2 subsequent 12 months, though when it’ll be, we can not say.
10 — iPhone 15 (and new Watches and iPads, too)
Apple’s iPhone 15 could possibly be an enormous improve this 12 months, if rumors of USB-C connectivity lastly come to fruition. Apple has publicly confirmed it is going to adjust to new EU rules mandating USB-C by the tip of 2024, however the query stays as as to if which means iPhone 15 will get USB-C, or whether or not we’ll have to attend for iPhone 16, or maybe even 17.
Different rumors embrace a attainable redesign that might take inspiration from curvier iPhone fashions of the previous.
We don’t actually know what Apple has deliberate for Apple Watch in 2023, however each the Apple Watch SE and Collection 8 had been underwhelming upgrades, and Apple might want to make huge modifications subsequent 12 months to persuade customers they should replace. Apple Watch Extremely shined in 2022, nevertheless it appears unlikely Apple would replace such a premium product so quickly after launch.
Likewise, we haven’t heard about any huge plans for iPad in 2023. We all know OLED is coming to iPad sooner or later, however that might not be till 2024. Apple’s iPad Air is due an even bigger improve, as is the iPad Professional. Each of those gadgets solely actually obtained new processors of their final updates, with little in the best way of recent options or exterior design tweaks.
