Apple WWDC 2023: iOS 17, Vision Pro, MacBook Air and more

iOS17

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As has become tradition at the WWDC keynote, Apple revealed what to expect from the next iOS update.

iOS 17 builds upon the lock screen changes introduced in iOS16. Lock screens will now have Standby mode – when your iPhone is not in use and in a horizontal orientation, it’ll transform into a smart home display, showing weather, appointments, notifications, and other important information.

Additionally, you can customise contact screens with personal contact ‘posters’ that will be displayed whenever someone calls you. A safety-focused feature called Check-In allows you to automatically notify your friend or family member when you arrive at your destination, such as your home. There’s also NameDrop, a new way to transfer contact information between iPhones, and what has been dubbed ‘iPhone’s ducking autocorrect problem’ will be fixed as the keyboard's autocorrect has been upgraded for more accurate and personalised suggestions. Oh, and you can now just say “Siri” to trigger the virtual assistant – no more “Hey, Siri”.

As per all other iOS release dates, Apple will likely roll out iOS17 in September this year.

15-inch Macbook Air

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Apple also unveiled a new MacBook Air with a 15.3-inch display – a significant addition to their MacBook Air lineup, which has only featured 13-inch displays up until now. The new device, presented as “the world’s thinnest” 15-inch laptop, weighs just slightly over 1.3kg.

The new MacBook Air features an 18-hour battery life, an M2 chipset, TouchID in the keyboard, a 1080p camera, and a Liquid Retina display. It’s available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space grey, and it’s also open for pre-orders starting today.

Vision Pro

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The long-awaited Vision Pro headset is arguably one of Apple’s biggest announcements this year. The mixed-reality device offers a combined virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experience – users can access apps that overlay virtual content such as movies, games, and even meeting calls onto the real world.

Presented as “Apple’s first spatial computer”, the Vision Pro is powered by two advanced chips: the M2 and the new R1 chip, specifically designed for real-time sensor processing. With the introduction of visionOS, Vision Pro empowers users to engage with digital content in a manner that creates a tangible presence within their surroundings.

The headset also features spatial audio support through built-in speakers and can be accompanied by an external battery pack, providing up to two hours of usage on a single charge.

The Vision Pro is priced at US$3,499 (S$4,720), and will arrive early next year.

iPadOS 17

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Like iOS17, iPadOS 17 will also allow you to personalise your lock screen. There’s also new interactive widgets that will allow for easy access to apps and features directly from the homescreen.

The Notes app also gets an update, including the ability to detect fields in PDFs and to collaborate with others in real time. Plus, the Health app will finally be available on iPad.

macOS Sonoma

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For macOS Sonoma, users will soon be able to add widgets to their desktop, which can help enhance productivity and workflow. There will also be dynamic screensavers that can be used as wallpapers. Safari also receives notable updates, including the ability to allow users to create and pin web apps to the Dock and establish profiles for different browsing sessions.

Apple is also looking to enhance gaming experiences on Mac with a new dedicated "game mode" that prioritises the GPU and CPU for optimised performance.

watchOS 10

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As you can tell by now, widgets are big on Apple’s agenda this year. They will also be making their way to watchOS 10. Apple Watch users will get a new way to view information with redesigned apps and Smart Stack, which allows you to conveniently browse through various information at a glance by turning your watch’s digital crown.

Additionally, Apple is introducing numerous new watch faces, new workout views, and the Mindfulness app will also have additional tools to support mental health.