These are the Apple products to get excited about in 2023. Image: Rajesh
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.
The iPad mini will apparently stay a traditional tablet. Photo: Apple
There’s bad news for those ready for a folding iPad. Apple is not working on a small folding tablet to replace the iPad mini, according to a reliable source of inside info.
Still, a new version of the iPad mini with a faster processor is on the way.
A 27-inch iMac Pro is allegedly still a possibility. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Although Apple killed off the iMac Pro line, it’s coming back better than ever, according to a reliable source. That means a high-end macOS all-in-one is supposedly on Apple’s product roadmap.
The company is also reportedly working on a Mac Pro desktop, also powered by Apple silicon.
Apple has multiple external monitors under development. Photo: Apple
Apple is currently working on multiple new external monitors powered by Apple silicon. This includes a replacement for the Pro Display XDR that launched in 2019.
There’s no confirmed timeline for the launch of the new monitors.
New evidence points to the Apple M2 Max supporting much more RAM than its predecessor. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Very early benchmark scores for what is apparently the 2023 MacBook Pro show buyers will be able to configure the laptop with much more RAM. And new details on the M2 Max processor were revealed, too.
The performance scores show a modest 14% increase over the 2021 version, but benchmark scores months before the release of any computer are of limited use.
Coming soon to an iPhone near you? Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest iPhone 15 rumors make it sound like we’re getting some major changes on the design front. And, while the switch from Lightning to USB-C sounds like a winner, Apple might pull one of its irritating tricks by making a handy feature exclusive to the iPhone Pro models next year.
Also on The CultCast:
Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals on your favorite Apple gear.
COVID-19 chaos in the Chinese factory complex known as “iPhone City” points to further supply-chain disruptions for Cupertino.
Find My miracles!
Mondo’s Severance collectibles look like a really cool way to dig deeper into the most creative show on Apple TV+.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
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iPhone SE 4 might look much like the iPhone XR, but Apple is also considering other designs. Photo: Apple
Apple is reportedly sticking with a two-year replacement cycle on its budget handset line. That means the iPhone SE 4 won’t be out until 2024, according to a reliable source.
The launch is apparently far enough away that Apple hasn’t settled on a final design.
Apple Watch Pro could have an extra physical button. Photo: 91Mobiles
Purported CAD renders of the Apple Watch Pro appeared online Monday, giving us a clear look at the rumored high-end wearable’s design. The renders show a new physical key on the left side of the watch.
The rugged Apple Watch variant will be aimed at athletes and endurance sports.
UPDATE:The Apple Watch Ultra was announced on September 7, and the leaked CAD drawings turned out 100% accurate. Read our preview of the smartwatch for all the details.
The iPhone 14 is just days away. Among the many changes that have leaked out: a redesigned display cutout. Mockup: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 14 is expected this week, but you don’t have to wait until Wednesday – most of the details have leaked out already. We know about the new Plus version, the higher-res camera, the always-on display and much more.
So why wait? Here’s all the leaked details on the 2022 iPhone.
Apple is developing three AR/VR headsets. Photo: RendersbyIan
Apple is reportedly working on at least three AR/VR headsets. The company will first launch the “Apple Reality Pro” headset, which would directly rival Meta’s upcoming Quest Pro headset.
AirPods Pro 2's charging case CAD renders show speaker holes and a lanyard attachment hole. Photo: Andrew O'Hara
CAD renders supposedly of the AirPods Pro 2 charging case appeared online Friday, revealing some changes potentially coming to Apple’s noise-canceling earbuds. They show an opening for a lanyard attachment as well as speaker holes that could make misplaced AirPods Pro easier to locate.
Apple might announce the second-gen AirPods Pro alongside the iPhone 14 at its Far Out event on September 7.
This is the last time you'll hear us talking about what iPhone 14 might look like. Image: Cult of Mac (iPhone 14 Pro render by Ian Zelbo)
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Last-minute leaks indicate iPhone 14 Pro might not suffer the indignity of the “pillhole.” And that’s not the end of the revelations and guesswork prior to Apple’s Far Out event next Wednesday.
Also on The CultCast:
Soon, all your Apple devices will talk to satellites.
Apple Watch Pro is all about the battery life so it can keep pace with endurance athletes.
AI-generated art is getting really good — and really creepy!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
A new top-of-the-line Apple Watch Pro allegedly coming in 2022 will have a flat screen and a titanium body. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A critical detail has leaked about about Apple’s upcoming wearable designed for serious athletes. The new top-tier Apple Watch will have a 47mm screen, according to a new report coming out of Asia.
This will make it the largest version yet of Apple’s wrist computer.
If you're in the market for a smart speaker, here's what you need to know about the HomePod 2. Photo: Apple
A replacement for the original, full-size HomePod is reportedly in development. The smart speaker is expected to provide better audio performance than the current HomePod mini.
Apple has started working on the iPhone 14’s launch event. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly does not plan to hold an in-person iPhone 14 event this September. Instead, the company will once again announce the upcoming iPhones via a virtual event.
A new Chinese company has joined the iPhone 14's supply chain for the first time. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple seemingly diversified its supply chain by adding a new component supplier for the iPhone 14 lineup. Chinese company SG Micro has acquired the necessary certifications to supply components for the high-end iPhone 14 Pro series.
The move comes as Apple looks to avoid disruptions in its supply chain due to external factors.
Apple's next MacBook Pro refresh could be here sooner than usual. Photo: Apple
MacBook Pros powered by upgraded Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max chips could debut as early as this fall. The new chips would focus on delivering improved GPU performance.
The upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro refresh is not expected to pack any other significant changes.
iPhone 14 is moving ahead Concept: Jon Prosser/Ian Zelbo
The iPhone 14 is reportedly already in the test production phase. That puts Apple’s next-gen smartphone on schedule to launch in September, as expected.
But, in a separate report, an industry analyst warns that one version of the 2022 iPhone may be in short supply when it launches.
Wait until 2025 if you want don't want to spend a bomb on Apple's AR headset. Concept: Martin Hajek/Computer Bild
Apple’s second-generation AR/MR headset could debut in 2025 with a more affordable price tag than the original. The company seemingly plans to launch two different variants of the headset to target consumers with different budgets.
Apple’s first-generation mixed reality headset is currently expected to launch in the first half of 2023.
Are you willing to spend more for iPhone 14? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iPhone 14 could cost $100 more than iPhone 13 due to an increase in component costs across Apple’s supply chain, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
What, exactly, will the rumored rugged Apple Watch look like? Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: This could be the year Apple Watch goes large … and rugged … and maybe long. Like, long enough to track the kind of intense, multi-hour workouts that “extreme sports athletes” engage in.
So the question is, what will this beefier (and pricier) Apple Watch look like? We can’t help letting our imaginations run a little wild.
Also on The CultCast:
iOS 16 features that will keep us all waiting.
Apple’s new Lockdown Mode sounds super-serious.
The White House honors Steve Jobs with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The dreaded pukerang!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
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Just how radically rugged will the Apple Watch for extreme athletes be? Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
The rugged Apple Watch designed for hardcore athletes will come with the smartwatch’s biggest screen yet, according to a new report.
Slated to launch this fall alongside Apple Watch Series 8, the sports-oriented smartwatch will come with a beefier battery to make it through longer workouts. A more shatter-resistant screen and a brawny metal case will round out the package — along with a hefty price bump.
Pro iPhones could get a speed advantage over non-Pro models. Concept render: souta
Going forward, Apple might make its latest and greatest A-series chips exclusive to high-end iPhone models, according to a reputable analyst.
Apple previously did not differentiate between Pro and “regular” iPhones when it came to processors. But that could change with this year’s iPhone 14 lineup.