Apple WWDC 2023: Everything announced from the Apple Vision Pro headset, iOS 17, MacBook Air and more

It’s WWDC 2023 keynote time! Each year Apple kicks off its Worldwide Developer Conference with a few hours of just straight announcements, generally covering things from OS to watchOS to new and updated gadgets. Here’s how to tune in — someone even created a BINGO game.

By now, you’ve prepared yourself with what we think will be unveiled, now sit back and relax while the team runs down all of the biggest news in an easy-to-skim digest.

Mac 15-inch

Dream big indeed. It’s Apple’s largest consumer laptop.

• Three pounds and 11.5mm thin, touting as “thinnest 15 inch laptop to date.”
• 18 hours of battery life.
• Six speakers

Mac Studio

The Mac Studio, Apple’s small yet powerful desktop computer, is receiving a product update, including the silicon and replacing the M1 Max and M1 Ultra with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra.

• Roughly three times as tall as a Mac Mini.
• The main difference is that the new chip unlocks new performances.
• When it comes to the neural engine, it is 40% faster. 
• Video bandwidth has been increased, which means that you can connect 8K display at a fast refresh rate.

MacPro

This was a surprise announcement about the Apple Silicon powered desktop and rack-mounted Mac Pro workstation. Get the scoop.

M2 Ultra

M2 Ultra is the most powerful Apple Silicon chip yet, however, Apple continues with its M1 playbook.

• With Ultra, the M2 version is also essentially two M1 Max dies fused into a single package.
• It is built using 5nm technology and featuring 134 billion transistors, will feature 24 CPU cores, up to 76 GPU cores (there’s also a 60-core option) and a 32-core Neural Engine. The CPU consists of 16-next gen high-performance cores and eight high-efficiency cores.
• One major change is that the M2 Ultra supports up to 192 GB of unified memory, backed by 800GB/s of memory bandwidth.

New features: Namedrop, Journal app, Standby, Autocorrect, no more “hey Siri”

Apple Messages

Apple is introducing an overhaul of one of our most-used apps on the iPhone, the Messages app.

• Notable tweaks: ability to view transcribed voice messages and an interface change that hides away iMessage apps.
• New feature: the safety-focused “Check In” option that will allow iPhone users to let their friends and family know they got home safely — or where they were last.
• Also, there is a faster and more convenient search experience and the ability to view a transcription of voice messages.

iPadOS 17 and new iPad features

Apple’s latest version of iPadOS is called iPadOS 17. The new version includes upgrades, including improved widgets featuring better live interactions, the Home Screen can be customized similarly to the iPhones, and there are new native apps, including the Health app and an improved Notes app. Learn more.

Now let’s take a look at new features introduced for the iPad.

The new Health app for the iPad that will launch as part of iPadOS 17 later this year. Previously, the app was only available on the iPhone.

Speaking of health, Apple also announced that it will focus on mental health with some new features for the Apple Watch and iPhone. Get the scoop.

Also, Apple is adding Live Collaboration to improve the experience of working with PDFs. Using machine learning technology, the iPad OS 17 can identify fields in a PDF so that you can fill them out quickly — that’s big for people who don’t have easy access to Adobe Acrobat. This also functions with photos of documents that you scan onto your iPad. Read more about Live Collaboration.

MacOS 14 Sonoma

Apple’s latest desktop operating system, macOS 14, is named for another California town, this time, Sonoma.

• What’s new: the desktop is getting interactive widgets and there is a game mode designed to limit distractions amid a growing selection of silicon titles.
• What else: in a nod to all of the teleconferencing we do, there is a new overlay feature that cuts out the speaker, playing them in front of a dynamic background. There are new effects like fireworks, as well.

AirPods

Don’t worry, AirPods were not forgotten today. Updates to these gadgets were meant to improve user experience. Enter the new Adaptive Audio feature that can blend active noise cancellation mode and transparency mode to make it easier to use noise cancellation features and still remain aware while walking down the street. Apple said that it is also working on improving the automatic switching feature. Read more.

Apple TV

FaceTime on your television? Yes please! If you have Apple TV, looking for for this new feature. This will use Continuity Camera on an iPhone or iPad to double as a webcam and will also use Center Stage, Apple’s AI-powered tech that adjusts the iPhone and iPad’s front-facing camera in video apps, to frame you while you look at the TV. Read more about the FaceTime on Apple TV.

Let’s be real — that Apple TV remote is a slippery little bugger that likes to go where it wants. If yours likes to disappear, Siri will now help you find it. Get the scoop.

Vision Pro AR headset

And here it is: Apple’s Vision Pro AR headset. It’s has a fully 3D interface, controlled by eyes hands and face.

WatchOS 10

Apple previewed some improvements coming up to its smartwatch operating system:

• They include an updated user interface with a renewed focus on widgets, plus refreshed first-party apps and other new features.
• Why is the userface part important? The user interface for Apple Watch hasn’t seen a sizable update in many years, and a number of top third-party apps have pulled out of the Apple Watch App Store in recent years
• To access the new watchOS 10 widgets, you can simply turn the Digital Crown. Previously, pressing the Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch would take you to the homescreen.
• Look out for a refresh of some of the core apps, including World Clock.