Apple’s 33rd annual Global Developers Conference is scheduled to begin Monday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. Like the 2020 and 2021 events, it will be held digitally, so it’s free to all developers worldwide.
The main event will give us our first look at new OS updates, including iOS16iPadOS 16, macOS 13, tvOS 16 and watchOS 9, plus rumors suggest we could see some new hardware. Everything we heard about this year’s event is outlined below.
iOS16
Most iOS 16 rumors have been vague, so we know little about the OS update at this time. In years past, new versions of iOS were leaked early and gave us a glimpse of the upcoming feature set, but that didn’t happen this year.
That said, we have heard rumors what to expect, with much of the information coming from Bloombergit is Marc Gurmanwhich has reliable sources with information on Apple’s plans.
Rumored New Features
- Revamped lock screen with wallpapers with “widget-like capabilities”.
- There will be “significant” improvements to notifications, although we don’t know the specific details.
- Messaging app with “social network-like functionality” with a particular focus on audio messages.
- Health app with extensive sleep tracking functionality and medication management. Apple is working on a tool that will allow users to scan their pill bottles into the app, and new features for women’s health are expected.
- New Apple apps are in the works, without further specific information.
- Apple is also working on “new ways to interact with the system”, but it’s not entirely clear what that means.
- New types of Fitness+ workouts.
- Apple Music classic application with interface based on Primephonic, an application acquired by Apple in 2021.
Possible features based on iPhone 14 rumors
- Permanent display for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max (not coming until September).
- Probably revamped status bar interface for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max to fit the punch-hole and pill design that should replace the notch on these devices.
- The iPhone 14 models are expected to come with a car crash detection feature, which would automatically call emergency services when a collision is detected. This would require a new iOS 16 feature.
- Apple may also add a satellite emergency feature to iPhone 14 models, which would be supported in iOS 16. This feature would allow iPhones to send text messages in emergency situations when there is no cellular coverage and report major emergencies when coverage is unavailable.
- iOS 16 could include support for buy now, pay later for Pay Apple that Apple is developing.
- Similarly, it could introduce support for hardware subscription program which will allow customers to pay a monthly fee for a iPhone, iPador Mac.
For more on what we expect in iOS 16, we have a dedicated iOS 16 roundup.
iPadOS 16
iPadOS 16 will benefit from many new features introduced in iOS 16, but Apple is also working on additional iPad-specific features.
With iPadOS 16, Apple aims to make the iPad behaves more like a laptop than a smartphone, and the new iPad software will be one of the biggest updates announced at WWDC.
The update will feature a redesigned multitasking interface that makes it easier to switch between tasks and see what apps are open, in addition to allowing users to resize windows. Apple also plans to implement new ways for users to manage multiple apps at once, in what feels like a much more Mac-like multitasking experience.
macOS 13
We don’t know much about the feature set coming to macOS 13, as there have been few leaks. It’s rumored to feature a revised System Preferences interface that brings it more in line with the Settings app on iPhone and iPad, with the update to include individual settings organized by app.
Apple should also revamp some of the default apps, so we can see improvements in Messages, Mail, Safari, and more. Messages in particular are rumored to be getting social media-like functionality with improvements to audio messages. It’s rumored iOS 16, but Messages generally has feature parity across platforms.
As for naming, macOS 13 could be macOS Mammoth, based on Apple’s trademark filings. In 2013, Apple registered trademarks for many California landmarks and Mammoth is the one that has remained active the longest, although its status is currently unknown and Apple has chosen names in the past that do not have never been on this list. is not certain.
watch OS 9
watchOS 9 will have updates that will impact day-to-day operation and navigation on the wrist-worn device.
- Updated power saving mode that will allow use of apps and features while reducing battery usage.
- Expanded atrial fibrillation detection feature with an added “burden”, i.e. how often a person is in atrial fibrillation state over a period of time.
- Improved health and activity tracking.
- More workout types.
- Additional measurements for running workouts.
- Refresh for existing watch faces.
tvOS 16
tvOS doesn’t often get as many new features as other OS updates, and we don’t know much about tvOS 16, but it looks like it will include some new smart home ties. You may be able to do more with your smart home products thanks to the AppleTV after launching the update.
Material possibilities
The latest WWDC events have focused solely on software and haven’t included any hardware announcements, so it’s not yet clear if we’ll see any hardware unveiled at this year’s event. If we do, the devices listed below are the most likely candidates.
Macbook Air
If Apple plans to introduce new Macs at the event, the Macbook Air is the device we will probably seeaccording Bloombergis Mark Gurman. Apple reportedly “aimed” to introduce the MacBook Air at the event, but COVID-related supply chain issues in China may prevent Apple from doing so.
The next-gen MacBook Air is expected to feature a total design overhaul with a MacBook Pro-like shape that does away with the tapered body. It will be thinner and lighter, and it is expected to come in multiple colors, including space gray, silver, a champagne color and blue. The MacBook Air is expected to feature slim off-white bezels and a matching off-white keyboard, and its size could be around 13.6 inches.
The MacBook Air will likely get a next-gen M2 chip, which should have the same number of computing cores as the M1 (eight), but it will include speed improvements that will make it slightly faster. It’s also said to have improved graphics with nine or 10 GPU cores, compared to seven or eight in the current M1 MacBook Air.
The M2 chip will be the first upgrade to the M1-series chips that Apple has used in Apple silicon devices to date. Although many rumors suggest the MacBook Air will feature an M2 chip, Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo believes that Apple could focus on redesign rather than new chip technology.
He said the next-generation TSMC N3 and N4P manufacturing processes not ready for mass production until 2023, Apple will therefore only be able to introduce an iterative update supposed to use the same N5P chip used for the A15 and the M1.
More information about the next-generation MacBook Air can be found in our 2022 MacBook Air guide.
Mac Pro
In 2019, the redesigned modular Mac Pro was shown off at WWDC ahead of its late 2019 launch, and it’s possible we could see a similar unveiling this year.
Apple hardware engineering chief John Ternus confirmed at spring event that there is an Apple silicon version of the Mac Pro in the works, and that it should arrive sometime in 2022.
Perhaps Apple could give us a little preview of the Mac Pro ahead of a launch later this year.
Rumors suggest that the Mac Pro will feature an even more powerful chip than the M1 Ultra used in the mac studio. It is expected to feature up to 40 CPU cores and 128 graphics cores, which would make it twice as powerful as the M1 Ultra.
Apple could introduce a M1 Ultra successor which is actually two M1 Ultra chips tied together, as the M1 Ultra itself is essentially two connected M1 Max fries. If so, the next Mac Pro chip will be four times more powerful than the M1 Max.
AR/VR headset?
There were rumors last year that Apple’s AR/VR headset might see an introduction at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference, but it looks like that won’t happen.
BloombergMark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the headset is simply not ready to show at this point, because Apple still has some issues to work out. Kuo believes Apple will launch the headset in 2023, and Gurman said Apple isn’t considering a “full announcement” of the headset at WWDC.
That said, a trademark for “realityOS”, the headset’s operating system, was recently discoveredand it features an overseas filing deadline of June 8, 2022. This is a legal requirement, and it appears the date is unrelated to WWDC and is coincidental.
MacRumors cover
Apple plans to broadcast the WWDC keynote live on its website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube, but for those who can’t watch, we’ll be covering the event on MacRumors.com and via the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
We’ll also have in-depth coverage of all of Apple’s announcements throughout the week and as we test new software.