14th April 2023

WWDC 2023 Event: Will There Be Any Unexpected Hardware Announcements?

It’s not been the year we anticipated for Apple. First, they released new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros at the start of January. Secondly, the anticipated Spring Event hasn’t come to fruition – well, at least, not yet. It usually would have happened by now, so we’re not holding out much hope – but spring isn’t yet over, and there’s still a chance. That said, they recently announced WWDC 2023 from the 5th – 9th of June, which is traditionally about software revelations.

So, if the Spring Event isn’t on our radar, what potential hardware releases are we anticipating at WWDC? Join us as we discuss when we might expect them and what they’ll be. 

The probability of hardware announcements

It’s predicted that there will be plenty of software introductions: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and macOS 17. Although the focus is on software for Apple’s annual WWDC event, it’s not like we’ve never seen hardware revelations. Though, release dates often end up being a while later – like last year when they unveiled a new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.

This year, the rumour mill is saying that if we can expect any new hardware, it’ll be the much-anticipated AR/VR headset. While it was originally expected in January, a WWDC release makes more sense since the headset will require a fresh operating system, so we could safely expect a software announcement as well. What’s more, Apple demonstrated a mixed-reality headset to Executives recently.

As for what it’ll come with, we’re anticipating a 4K micro-OLED display, numerous cameras, an external battery pack, and high-end features, such as iris scanning. It’s incredibly advanced, but it’s important to note that it won’t be a mass-market product.

The chance of fresh MacBooksThere are rumours of new 13- and 15-inch MacBooks or potentially an updated, larger MacBook Air – something we already predicted for the year ahead. Though, if previous years are anything to go by, even when WWDC revealed fresh hardware, it’s worth noting this had a minimal focus. So, if they do unveil the AR/VR headset, given it’s a state-of-the-art device, we can expect that to be the only focal point in terms of hardware.

While it’s not that likely, there are also rumours going around about new iMacs. These could be an updated 24-inch device coming with an M3 chip and a new 27-inch iMac (something that’s also been on the grapevine for quite some time). A Mac Studio is a possibility too, holding M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors. 

We’ll have to see what happens – but if there is one Mac we think has the highest chance of coming to fruition at WWDC 2023, then it has to be an all-new Mac Pro…

The long-awaited release of the Silicon Mac Pro

There’s good reason to expect the Silicon Mac Pro. Mac Pros have previously been announced at WWDC events in 2017 and 2019, allowing time for a release later in the year. 

We’ve been wondering what’s happening with the Mac Pro for some time – Apple are already past their two-year deadline with transitioning all Intel Macs to their Silicon processors, so the ARM-based Mac Pro has to be coming soon. 

It’s anticipated to come with the M2 Ultra chip and have a design similar to the 2019 version. 

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While any new hardware announcements from Apple are only ‘maybe’s at WWDC, it’s wise to prepare for fresh Mac releases. If you want to take advantage of the benefits they bring, but cash flow is a struggle, we offer the option of leasing – allowing you to spread the cost without paying a hefty price upfront for the power of the Mac. With us, you’ll be able to use your funds to grow.

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