Apple Sets Date for WWDC 2023, Where Its Mixed Reality Headset Is Expected To Debut
- Kyle Chua
- Mar 30, 2023
- 2 min read
Apple has set the date for this year's edition of Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).
The annual technology conference will be held from 5-9 June this year as an online event, with select developers and students invited to a special keynote on the opening day.
Historically, Apple uses WWDC to share the latest on its software offerings, including updates about iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS, among others. On occasion, the Cupertino tech giant would also unveil some hardware, and that could be the case this year, with the long-rumoured mixed reality headset expected to make its debut at the event.
In mid-February, it was reported that Apple pushed back the reveal of the so-called Reality Pro headset from April to to June, aligning with WWDC 2023. The delay was supposedly meant to give developers more time to address software and hardware issues.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the headset could ship later in the year, and retail for US$3,000 – twice that of the Meta Quest Pro's starting price of US$1,500. The relatively steep price likely has to do with the cutting edge hardware built into the headset, including 4K (3840 x 2160 pixel resolution) displays for each eye, advanced tracking and gesture inputs, along with an M2 processor and 16GB of RAM under the hood. The headset also features a wholly new operating system called xrOS, which would bring a number of health-focused functions and new versions of the company's core apps like Messages and Maps.
Apple is also likely to unveil iOS 17, macOS 14 and watchOS 10, among other software updates. It could also announce refreshed Mac models that'll be powered by the company's next-generation M3 processors. But because Apple didn't confirm or hint at what announcements it has in store for the event, apart from software updates, it's best to chalk these up as speculation for now.
The same with previous years, Apple will stream the event on its website and YouTube, among other platforms.
Apple's WWDC 2023 will be held from 5-9 June this year as an online event.
The Cupertino giant confirmed that it'll be spotlighting software updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS, among others.
Apple's long-rumoured Reality Pro headset is also expected to make its debut at the event.
