2023 already looks like an exciting year for the tech industry. We will see a lot of new products and innovations. Some may be updates to an already existing tech, while others would be completely new. Apple’s product lineup for the year ahead looks very interesting as we cannot wait to see what the Cupertino company brings to the table of tech next year. 2023 will be a year that Apple will step into the AR/VR Headsets world.
It seems to be a very busy year for Apple. This is because a lot of Apple products would see refreshed versions in 2023. Apple products such as MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini and the Mac Pro are all due for new upgrades. The Mac Pro for examples has not been updated since 2019 and 2023 would be the perfect year to see a new Mac Pro.
Apple will be refreshing a lot of products which includes the Apple Watch and the iPhone. In as much as we all cannot wait to see what the company brings with the next Apple Watch; the whole world will have their site on the iPhone 15 line up.
Even though the iPhone 15 may come with similar looks to the ones we already have on the market, the main physical change however will be swapping the lightening port for a USB-C port. The USB-C will also give Apple the freedom to come with faster charging speed iPhones. It will be exciting to see how Apple will handle this and how well the iPhone can compete with other flagships when it comes to charging speed.
Other features will include the periscope zooming lens on the iPhone 15 Pro (Ultra) and of course, the A17 Bionic Chip. Based on the current rumors, we have gathered all the Apple products that we will be expecting in the year 2023. We will discuss each of them one after the other.
AR/VR Headset (Early 2023 to Mid 2023)
Apple’s AR/VR has been a topic for discussion for a couple of years now. Finally, it looks like 2023 would be the year we will finally see it in reality. Since 2015 when Apple launched its first Apple watch, this will be the first time Apple has launched a new product. This will also mark Apple’s second wearable.
All first time Apple products come in limited quantities, limited utilities and of course expensive price tags. The new AR/VR from Apple would not be exempted from these. As you may already know, the term AR/VR stands for Augment Reality, Virtual Reality. This concept combines both AR and VR to work as one product. The concept’s general name is Mixed Reality.
This concept overlays virtual objects over the real world to make things look and feel real. Rumors however claims that Apple will focus more on the virtual experience. The AR/VR from Apple may come with a name like Reality Pro or Reality One. But these are just rumors, so we wait to see what Apple finally comes out with.
Design
In terms of design, the Apple AR/VR Headset will not have much difference from the ones that are already on the market. It will feature a Curved front display that covers the area of both eyes.
The display will sit on the faces using a mesh material for comfort. The headset will also use an adjustable strap using a similar material like the Apple watch strap. This will help fit well to different head shapes and sizes.
This headset will also come with a very light weight. According to rumors, Apple will design the headset to be lighter than those on the market at the moment. This will ensure extra comfort no matter how long you wear it.
We also expect a couple of physical buttons as well as audio controls. There will be multiple cameras on the device. This will help detect gestures, hand movements, eyes movements, as well as the ambient environment.
Display
Apple’s Mixed reality will feature a dual high resolution 4K micro-OLED display. The displays will have up to 3,000 pixels per inch. Rumors have also claimed that the device will also have an external display. This display will give exterior indicator information.
Capabilities
This new product from Apple is expected to feature dozens of optical cameras attached to it. This will enhance mapping of the environment, monitoring the user and projecting virtual experience.
In virtual reality apps and games, this helps the headset capture accurate facial movements and relay them in video chats and other interactions.
Eight cameras will be dedicated to virtual see through for reading the external environment. Meaning there will be cameras that will detect human beings around you, map the surfaces and room dimensions. This will help the system place virtual objects in front and behind real world objects. This provides better seamless experience between the virtual world and the real world.
Two others downward facing cameras will also detect the legs movements. This will give a more accurate motion tracking. Apple will make use of gestures such as eye tracking, head movements and hand gestures for controls. The device will also come with a component that is worn on the finger. This will work as an input accessory.
Apple could also include iris scanning for security. Something like the FaceID used in iPhones and other Apple products. Even though we don’t know yet the name of this chip Apple will use, rumors have it that the chip will come with enough power to match the performance of the MacBook Air.
Along with the high-end processor, Apple will also include low end processor that will handle the sensors.
Operating System And Functionality
The Apple AR/VR headset could make use of an operating system that goes by the name xrOS. This name stands for extended reality which is the concept that represents both the virtual and augment reality capabilities of the device.
Rumors also claims that Apple will create a special App Store for the device. The app store will mainly focus on gaming, streaming video contents and communications.
Apple could also partner with other media firms to create contents that could be watched in VR. As part of its Ecosystem, Apple could also include a VR FaceTime experience. This will come with Animojis that projects facial expressions.
As expected, Apple will also partner with game developers to develop VR capable games for its headset. The headset is also said to integrate heavily with Apple’s Own services such as Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade.
The Apple AR/VR has been in speculations for years now due to several reasons which include design issues. Finally, it seems all is clear for the device to finally come to life. If nothing changes, we should see the new headset in the first half of 2023.
Pricing And Release Date
The Apple AR/VR will not come cheap as expected. The device may cost around $3,000 and there will be limited quantities for the first edition. Apple will focus on content creators, developers and professionals. This means the first release will not be for the general public.
Apple could take advantage of the worldwide developers’ confidence to launch the headset. This will give developers enough time to develop apps for the device before Apple finally launches it in the Fall of 2023.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro (September 2023) (Apple Products 2023)
As one of Apple’s most reliable products, the iPhone always gets a fresh successor every September. Getting a new iPhone every year is the norm of every year and 2023 will not be different. As always, the next iPhone will launch in 2023 and that will be the iPhone 15 lineup.
As the way Apple does it every year, we may get iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Rumors have however suggested that the latter will come with a new name. The iPhone 15 Pro Max could be renamed to iPhone 15 Ultra. The Ultra version will be the highest end iPhone in the iPhone 15 lineup.
This means that the iPhone 15 Ultra with the 6.7″ display will have some features that the 6.1″ pro model does not have. The pro model will also come with some features that the standard models may lack.
Size and Design of the iPhone 15
In terms of sizes, we are much aware that Apple will leave the 5.4″ mini on the bench for good. Apple now focuses on two sizes which is the 6.1″ and the 6.7″ only.
As it stands now, there is no information on a change in design yet. However, rumors have claimed that the iPhone 15 series will have a rounded edges towards the back just like what we have in the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 2021 editions.
Other rumors have to do with the chassis which could feature a Titanium material for the Pro models. This will also include a solid-state volume and power buttons. Just like what Apple used in the home button of the old iPhones with Touch IDs.
Just like any other manufacturer, Apple also uses mechanical buttons that depresses physically when pressed. Apple wants to change that in the iPhone 15 series. The iPhone 15 series may come with a haptic feedback button that vibrates to mimic the feel of a button pressed. Just like what Apple used in the iPhone 7 and others.
Including such a feature will mean that Apple would have to include two more Taptic on the sides of the iPhone 15 Pro Models. Nonetheless, this will be essential in protecting the iPhone 15 against water and dust.
The last update will have to do with Apple’s latest innovation in the iPhone. That is the Dynamic Island. Currently, only the pro models have this feature. But there are reports of Apple including it in all iPhone 15 models.
USB-C Port
If you follow Apple news, you should know this by now. The iPhone 15 is ditching the lightening ports to make use of the USB-C as ordered by the European Union. Already Apple products such as the MacBook and the iPad have already started using the USB-C ports. The iPhone 15 Will be the first iPhone to follow this trend.
This will also help use one charger for all your Apple products and also unlock the possibility of fast charging in some iPhone models.
The iPhone 15 Pro models may feature USB 3.2 or Thunderbolts speed for data transfer. With a transfer rate of up to 40GB/s. This, according to rumors will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro Models only. The standard models will stick to USB2.0 with a transfer rate of 480Mb/s.
Periscope Camera
The iPhone 15 series will definitely come with some important camera upgrades. But the major update will have to do with the periscope lens. For the first time ever, an iPhone will finally feature a Periscope lens. The downside of this news is that, only the high-end iPhone 15 ‘Pro’ or ‘Ultra’ 6.7″ version will feature this lens.
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This explains that it is only the highest model of the iPhone 15 line being the iPhone 15 Pro or Ultra (depending on how Apple names it) will be able to get the periscope lens. The periscope lens will come to replace the Telephoto lens used in the iPhone 14 Pro. In terms of optical zooming, the Periscope lens works better than the Telephoto lens. Unlike the 3x optical zoom in the iPhone 14 pro models, the iPhone 15 Pro will be able to perform a 6x optical zoom.
With 6x optical zoom, which is coupled with digital zoom, iPhones can finally challenge Android phones when it comes to zooming. With 10x optical zoom, Samsung for example is able to perform up to 100x zoom.
Apple will turn to Sony again for camera sensors to be used in the iPhone 15 models. Rumors have it that the new Sony sensors have more light intake to improve underexposure and overexposure of images. The sensors will also improve portraits and other images where previous iPhones have faced issues with backlighting. What we don’t know is whether Apple will incorporate the new Sony sensors in all the iPhone 15 models, or it will be limited to only the iPhone 15 Pro models.
A17 Chip
Just like the iPhone 14, Apple will use the A16 chip in the standard iPhone 15 while the Pro models get the new chip which will be the A17 Bionic chip. The A17 will be built on a 3nm node by TSMC.
The 3nm chip is said to come with extra performance which will be more energy efficient than the A16. Sources say the A17 will come with 10 to 20 percent better performance. It will also be about 30% more efficient.
RAM
Apple will also make some significant upgrades in the RAM department. The iPhone 15 Pro models could add 2 more Gigabytes of RAM to make it 8GB.
Macs and Displays (Apple Products 2023)
Apple is set to refresh the entire Mac lineup. The company has some exciting products coming up in 2023 for its Mac computers. This includes a new 15-inch MacBook Air and the first Apple Silicon Mac Pro.
Mac Pro (First Half of 2023)
The Mac Pro happens to be Apple’s last Mac computer running on the Intel processors. Since 2019, Apple has not launched a new MacPro. This is because Apple’s silicon chips needed some more time to evolve before the company finally makes a switch from Intel.
When it comes to the design, we are not sure of any notable external changes. The current model uses a stainless-steel frames and aluminum casing. It features an interlocking three-dimensional hemisphere to dissipate heat.
One thing we all know to be new in the Mac Pro will be Apple’s new Silicon chip technology. Apple will make use of an advanced version of the M1 chip which is the M2 Ultra chip. The new chip could feature up to 24-core CPU, 76-core GPU and up to 192GB of RAM or possibly more.
Currently, there is no information about when the Mac Pro will launch in the coming months. Rumors have however suggested the Apple could launch the desktop computer in early 2023 at a spring event or at WWDC.
14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro (First Half of 2023)
Throughout the year of 2022, Apple did not release new refreshed models for both 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro. So, 2023 will pave the way for us to see a new MacBook Pro 14 and its 16″ brother.
Design changes may not be under discussions here since this was made in 2021. The focus here is on the new Apple silicon chip. The current MacBook Pro are using the M1 Pro and the m1 Max chips. So, we expect the 2023 editions to feature the upgraded M2 Pro and the M2 Max silicon chips. The little rumor we have about the M2 Max chip suggest a 12-core CPU and up to 16-core GPU.
15-inch MacBook Air (Spring to Late 2023)
The current MacBook Air around measures at 13.6 inches. Reports suggest that Apple is currently working on a larger display MacBook Air. This version will have a screen size which is larger than the MacBook Pro 14 and smaller than the MacBook Pro 16. This makes it a 15″ MacBook.
This version is expected to inherit the flat edge design of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. It will also feature a large trackpad as well as function keys without fan.
We don’t expect this model to feature a mini-LED or ProMotion display. Apple will reserve such high-end displays for only Pro MacBook systems.
Mac Mini (Apple Products 2023)
Before the launch of Apple’s Mac Studio, it was believed that it was going to be a Mac mini family, hence replacing the Mac mini. That didn’t turn out to be the case. Mac mini still lives and we will be seeing a new Mac mini in 2023 per rumors.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that the Mac mini will come with internal iterations rather than external changes. This means the main focus would be on improving the performance. We also have other reports that the new Mac mini will come in multiple colors this time around.
For improved performance, the Mac mini will feature the M2 and M2 Pro chips. Apple has already introduced the M2 in the MacBook Air, but we are yet to see the M2 Pro in action. There are reports of the new Mac mini launching in the first half of 2023 but there is no confirmation behind this date.
iMac (Apple Products 2023)
Since Apple launched the iMac 24″ in 2021, the Cupertino company has not released any new model yet. 2022 has already ended so we have our heads up for 2023. Apple’s new iMac is tipped to feature and M3 chip, according to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. There is no news concerning the design update yet.
There were reports of Apple working on a larger display version of the iMac which would bring back the bigger iMac version. It is reported that this large display iMac could be called iMac Pro. It could make use of the M3 Pro and the M3 Max chips. We do know that there is a high possibility of the 27-inch iMac launching in 2023 but we don’t know yet whether it will launch in the first half or the second half of the year.
Apple HomePod (Early 2023) (Apple Products 2023)
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has spoken about the possibility of a new HomePod launch in 2023. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has also reiterated this by saying that the forthcoming HomePod could size between the original HomePod and the HomePod mini.
This mid-size HomePod could sell along the mini edition as a more expensive version of the HomePod mini. Sources claim that the new HomePod could feature a touch-integrated display and an S8 chip. Rumors also suggest that Apple will launch the HomePod in early 2023.
Apple Watch Series 9 (Fall 2023) (Apple Products 2023)
Just like the iPhone, Apple refreshes the Apple Watch every year and 2023 won’t be different. The Apple Watch Series 9 is expected to launch in Fall 2023. There is very little to tell when it comes to the series 9 because we have not heard of any rumors about it.
We are much aware that Apple is currently working on new sensors for monitoring blood glucose and blood pressure. But these innovations are too young to launch soon. The upcoming Apple Watch could come together with new Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra as well.
But one thing we cannot confirm however is that the Watch SE does not receive yearly renewals. As for the Watch Ultra, we are yet to see whether Apple will also refresh it every year like they do with the standard Apple Watch.
AirPods Max (Apple Products 2023)
Since 2020, Apple has not refreshed the Airpods Max even though there have been several rumors in the past. 2023 finally seems to be the perfect time for Apple to bring a new Airpods Max. We cannot always get rumors for everything especially from a company like Apple. But based on the past launch schedules for Airpods, A new Airpods Max is the next to hit the market.
Looking at the new features in the new Airpods Pro, the Airpods Max can pack-in the same. Such features include better Active Noise Cancellation, a U1 chip for precise “Find My” capabilities, Bluetooth 5.3 and Adaptive Transparency. The headphone is also tipped to come with the H2 chip.
iPad mini and iPad Air (late 2023) (Apple Products 2023)
The iPad mini has not seen a refreshed model since 2021. Apple is much aware of this and may launch a new model in late 2023. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has confirmed that a new iPad mini could launch in late 2023 or early 2024.
For the iPad Air there is little information about it with the exception of the fact that it will feature an M2 chip in 2023.
Wrap Up
These are all the Apple Products that will launch in 2034 according to rumors and reports. As you can see, 2023 will be a very busy year for Apple since they have a lot of products that needs refreshing. Apple will launch these products in stages as we have outlined. We will keep following each product launch and update you whenever there is a new update to this.