The next big Apple event is upon us, and WWDC 2023 is gearing up to deliver quite the showcase. In fact, rumour has it we’ll finally see Apple’s take on virtual reality.
From a newly sized 15-inch MacBook Air to the long-rumoured Reality Pro AR/VR headset, this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference could be Apple’s biggest yet. Nothing is set in stone, but the upcoming event could be Apple’s biggest product launch in a while. Oh, and we’ll see all the new iOS 17 updates set to arrive on iPhone.
Don’t expect any iPhone 15 announcements, but plenty of new tricks and features will be unveiled thanks to iOS 17. That goes for iPads, macOS for MacBooks and watchOS for Apple Watch.
If you’re wondering how to watch WWDC 2023 in NZ and everything to expect, we’ve got you covered below.
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When is Apple WWDC 2023 in NZ?
Apple’s next big event is kicking off on Monday, June 5 at 5pm PDT or Tuesday, June 6 at 5am NZST. It’s an early start for New Zealanders, so best get a cup of coffee brewing.
WWDC 2023 is a week-long event that starts on June 5 and closes on June 9. The signature keynote kicks the conference off and is often where Apple makes its most significant announcements.
As usual, the keynote will be streamed live from Apple Park in Cupertino, California, and viewers around the globe can watch it for free.
How to watch Apple WWDC 2023 in NZ?
You can catch the WWDC 2023 keynote livestream in NZ on the Apple Events page and on Apple’s official YouTube channel. There are more sessions available to watch that delve deeper into features announced, but you will need to sign up for WWDC sessions.
Prefer to watch it right here? Check out the livestream below.
3 things to expect at Apple WWDC 2023
As Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, states, “WWDC23 is going to be our biggest and most exciting yet.” While we’re sure the Cupertino-based tech giant believes every WWDC is the biggest yet, this one may ring true.
We know WWDC 2023 will spotlight the latest iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS advancements, but there are a few other surprises rumoured to be in store.
Apple Reality Pro AR/VR Headset
After years of rumours stating that Apple was developing a “mixed reality” headset that would use AR and VR, we may finally see the fruits (no pun intended) of its labour at WWDC 2023. That’s right, the Apple Reality Pro AR/VR Headset may finally be announced.
Trusted Apple analyst Mark Gurman claims it will be called the Reality Pro, and it will reportedly feature the ability to swap between AR and VR experiences on the fly (similar to what we’ve seen with the recently announced Meta Quest 3).
This headset isn’t expected to come cheap. According to the rumour mill, it’s set to cost around $3,000 (around NZ$4,950). It’s expected to target a niche consumer market, but it could kick off a new set of Apple products that are a bit more affordable to the general consumer.
Display analyst Ross Young states that it will feature two 1.41-inch microLED displays with 4K resolution and up to 5,000 nits of brightness, and many expect it to look like ski goggles. It’s also tipped to run on the powerful M2 chip (possible M2 Pro or M2 Max), so expect plenty of heat under the virtual hood.
It isn’t entirely certain what Apple’s AR/VR headset will specifically be used for – whether it will focus of content creation or gaming. Although, it won’t be much longer until we find out.
15-inch MacBook Air
We’re big fans of Apple’s MacBook Air, with the M2 MacBook Air and M1 MacBook Air making it onto our list of best laptops for good reason. Now, another MacBook Air is tipped to be announced, and it comes with a bigger display.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims the new 15-inch MacBook Air will be launched during WWDC 2023. Many believe it will come announced with a fresh M3 chip, but notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it will come with a still-impressive M2 chip (via MacRumors).
Otherwise, expect the design and performance of the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air we’ve already seen, except with a larger 15.5-inch LCD display instead of the usual 13.6-inch screen. With it’s bigger size, however, we could see a nice bump in battery life, which is always a welcome feature on laptops.
iOS 17
iPhone users will soon be getting an iOS 17 update, but we also expect the spotlight to shine on macOS 14, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17 and watchOS 10. As for what to expect? Not much, according to Gurman.
iOS 17 is set to bring a number of the “most requested features,” which is tipped to be performance improvements, bug fixes and a few nifty features. However, Gurman states that it will be less significant that other updates.
Still, if users get what they requested for, then it should be a worthwhile iOS update. Apple’s Wallet and Health app are set to get a few tune ups, but otherwise rumours are scarce.
As for other updates, macOS 14 is claimed to be called “Sunburst” internally and won’t come with many major updates, according to Gurman. Like previous macOS updates, “Sunburst” should launch sometime later this year – possibly in October or November to coincide with another Mac product launch.
All eyes are on Apple’s AR/VR headset at WWDC 2023, but we’re sure the Cupertino tech giant will have a few surprises up its sleeve. All will be revealed soon.
