Every year, Apple launches a handful of products that stand out from the competition. 2023 is going to be no different, but next year will be special for Apple in many ways.
The company could enter a new product category with its AR/VR headset, and the iPhone could get some major hardware upgrades. Below is a roundup of five Apple product launches to look forward to in 2023.
Apple products coming in 2023
Obviously, Apple strives to keep its upcoming product launches secret. However, a steady drip of rumors — and even hints from Cupertino itself — make these 2023 Apple product predictions look like safe bets.
1. AR/VR Headset
Long in development, Apple’s AR/VR headset might finally be ready for its unveiling. Initial reports from 2022 suggested the long-rumored device could debut early in 2023 at a special media event. Apple CEO Tim Cook even went so far as to tease the headset in an interview with Chinese media. The headset supposedly was showcased to the company’s board of directors as well.
However, due to recent development setbacks, Apple seemingly pushed back the AR/VR headset unveiling to the second half of 2023. But the company continues working on the headset, with the mixed-reality operating system reportedly rebranded to “xrOS” recently.
While a clear launch timeline remains unknown, Apple should release its mixed-reality headset in 2023. It would mark a big turning point for the AR/VR market — and could ignite consumer interest in the struggling technology.
2. Mac Pro
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Mac Pro is the only computer in Apple’s lineup that is not yet available with an M-series chip. Despite rumors, the company never launched an Apple silicon-based Mac Pro with a redesigned chassis in 2022. This should change in 2023, with an M2 Ultra-powered Mac Pro launching sometime around Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in the summer. If not then, expect it later in the year.
Apple was seemingly working on an M2 Extreme Mac Pro as well, but a recent report suggests Cupertino canned that model. Nonetheless, the Apple silicon-based Mac Pro will set itself apart from other Macs by offering RAM, storage and other upgradability options.
The Mac Pro is a niche product, but with its own fan base. It is mainly for workloads with heavy VFX processing, number crunching, and AI/ML development. No other pro machines pack so much power into a beautiful chassis.
3. iPhone 15 Pro
In many ways, the iPhone 14 Pro lineup did not live up to the hype. While the Always-On Display and Dynamic Island were welcome additions, their implementation left much to be desired. Similarly, the 48MP camera only showed its benefits when clicking photos in full resolution.
Going by the rumor mill, the iPhone 15 Pro series is shaping up to be a significant upgrade. After three generations using the same design language, the 2023 iPhones could debut a new chassis. This could include a titanium chassis with rounded edges along with solid-state volume and power buttons. Apple is also expected to finally ditch the Lightning connector and switch to USB-C on its 2023 iPhones.
The telephoto camera could get a major upgrade as well. Reports suggest Apple could equip the iPhone 15 Pro with a 5x telephoto camera for better zoom performance. And for the primary camera, Apple could use Sony’s new breakthrough sensor.
4. 15-inch MacBook Air
Photo: Apple
Apple has never launched a MacBook Air with a 15-inch display, but this could change in 2023. The rumor mill is rife with murmurs about the company working on a 15-inch variant of the MacBook Air.
Thanks to Apple’s M-series chips, the MacBook Air’s performance has improved by leaps and bounds since 2020. The laptops are now more than capable of handling day-to-day tasks.
A bigger display would make the MacBook Air a great alternative to Apple’s more-expensive MacBook Pro lineup, especially for users for whom portability is important. The latter will continue to attract pro users with its powerful CPU and dedicated ports.
If the rumors are anything to go by, Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air could launch in spring 2023.
5. Mac mini refresh
The Mac mini was among the first Macs to switch to Apple silicon. While Apple upgraded the entry-level and the midrange Mac mini with its M1 chip, it kept the high-end Intel model around. You can still buy the six-core Intel Core i5-powered Mac mini from Apple.
In 2023, Apple could refresh the Mac mini with an even more compact design and even faster chips. The entry-level models should feature the M2 chip, while the top-end variant could use the M2 Pro chip to deliver even better performance.
Alleged renders of the new Mac mini’s design indicate it could feature a magnetic power connector — like the M1 iMac — as well as four Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI and Ethernet.
Other Apple products in the 2023 pipeline
These are just a few of the products that Apple reportedly will launch next year — the ones we are most excited about. You can expect many other Apple hardware launches in 2023, including the long-rumored M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pros and the regular iPhone 15 models.
