Every year, Apple has some significant hardware upgrades planned for at least a few devices in its product lineup. 2023 could be an outlier, though.
This year, Apple’s major hardware launches will include its first AR/VR headset and the iPhone 15 series. While other products in the company’s lineup will receive a refresh, they will be relatively minor upgrades.
Apple products will only get a minor refresh in 2023
In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple has no major upgrades planned for the AirPods, Apple TV, iPad or Apple Watch in 2023. This is primarily due to the company focusing on its AR/VR headset and dedicating more resources toward its development.
While the Apple Watch will receive its annual refresh, Gurman says the 2023 model will pack minor performance improvements. Last year’s Apple Watch Series 8 includes a temperature sensor, but it’s limited to period tracking.
The report confirms that Apple is working on new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros with OLED displays. However, they supposedly will launch in early 2024 at the soonest. If Apple announces a new iPad Air or iPad mini refresh in 2023, they will be minor specs bump at best.
Gurman does not expect Apple to announce any AirPods refresh in 2023, so don’t expect updated AirPods Max headphones this year.
With the Apple TV getting a refresh last year, Apple does not intend to roll out another upgrade in 2023.
However, the iPhone lineup is slated to get a significant upgrade this year. This will include Dynamic Island coming to all models, a newer 5G modem, a telephoto zoom camera on the Pro Max model, solid-state buttons and a titanium chassis.
No major Mac upgrades coming this year
As for Macs, Apple should announce the Apple silicon Mac Pro this year, but it will retain the same design as the 2019 model. Additionally, the machine reportedly will miss out on user-upgradeable RAM. The M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pros are also on track to launch this year, packing minor performance improvements over their predecessors.
The only notable addition to Apple’s Mac lineup this year reportedly will be the launch of a 15-inch MacBook Air.
Gurman also thinks Apple will launch a larger HomePod this year, with updated touch controls but without any revolutionary features. Reportedly, Apple’s S8 chip will power the new smart speaker. It will come with a lower price tag than the 2018 HomePod.
