Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June will be a critical event for the company, according to Apple-whisperer Mark Gurman, featuring the long-awaited mixed reality headset as well as new Mac laptops and the biggest update to the Apple Watch’s software since 2015. Other product announcements include xrOS, new MacBooks, iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, and a major watchOS 10 update. The company is preparing for a future beyond the iPhone and iPad with its headset, which the company keeps promoting as eventually replace the iPhone. However, the company has also been said to think that initial expectations for sales should be lowered because it expects that there will be a ramp up period as it attracts developers to the platform, and creates momentum through new applications.
Apple is also ramping up testing for new Macs with processors similar to the current M2 chip, validating compatibility with third-party apps from the App Store, according to Gurman. The company hopes these new devices will help reverse the sales decline that resulted in a 40% drop in Mac shipments in the first quarter of 2023. Apple may be preparing to launch a 15-inch MacBook Air with a larger, higher-resolution display. The M3 chip, using a 3-nanometer production process, is expected to bring even bigger changes to the Mac, and Apple plans to release higher-end versions of the M3 chip for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros in the first half of 2024.
