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Apple WWDC 2023: AR/VR headset, Macs, and more expected

Apple’s (AAPL) Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on June 5, and if the rumors are to be believed, it could be one of the biggest Apple events in recent history. That’s because the iPhone maker is largely expected to launch its long-awaited VR/AR headset at the big show.

The headset, which Apple has been working on for years, would be the first new major product category from Apple since it debuted the Apple Watch in 2014. And there’s a lot riding on the device. Not only will the headset have a direct impact on CEO Tim Cook’s legacy, it could also determine Apple’s future beyond the iPhone.

While the VR/AR headgear will certainly be the star of the show, it’s not the only thing Apple will show off. Here’s everything we expect out of the tech giant at WWDC 2023.

The Reality Pro headset

Apple’s headset, which Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says will be called the Reality Pro, will likely be all people are talking about after the event. Gurman, who seemingly has a preternatural ability to find out what’s going on inside Apple’s walls, says the headset will cost around $3,000 and feature a design similar to a pair of ski goggles.

The Reality Pro will reportedly be a mixed reality device with a dial on the side that allows users to swap between fully-occluded VR and an AR experience that lays interactive digital graphics over the real world. According to Gurman, the Reality headset will be powered by one of Apple’s M2 chips and require a separate power pack that you’ll keep in your pocket.

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The Reality Pro’s displays, meanwhile, will have plenty of visual oomph. According to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, the headset will feature two 1.41-inch microLED displays and a resolution of 4K per eye.

As for content, Gurman says Apple is looking to throw everything it can at the headset ranging from sports offerings to productivity apps and video games. After all, regardless of how good the hardware is for the Reality Pro, it’ll need the right kind of content to get people interested in using it beyond the first 10 minutes of trying it on.

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Apple isn’t exactly coming into a crowded market. Facebook parent Meta (META) controls roughly 80% of the global VR/AR headset market thanks to its Quest products. The social media company introduced a new headset on June 1, cutting off Apple’s own announcement.

Still, ensuring the Reality Pro is a hit will be a tall task given the product category’s relatively lackluster pick up among consumers.

iOS 17, iPadOS, and watchOS

The company is also expected to debut the latest versions of its various operating systems. This is a developers conference after all.

Apple’s iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will likely make their first appearances at the show and include a handful of improvements, including more uses for the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island and potentially a deeper dive into the iPhone’s updated CarPlay platform.

A person holds a new iPhone 14 Pro at an Apple event on the campus of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
A person holds a new iPhone 14 Pro at an Apple event on the campus of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple will also show off a new journaling app designed to be used as part of its health offerings. The app will reportedly feature a means of tracking your daily activity to get a better sense of your overall mood and help with general observations about user health. Apple’s iPadOS 17 should also get its own dedicated health app, as well as the ability to customize the lock screen.

The Apple Watch is also set to get some interesting software updates in the form of a new interface focused on widgets that will make it easier to access certain app features without having to open the entire program, Bloomberg reports.

New Macs

Apple is also reportedly working on a slew of new Mac computers that could debut at WWDC. According to Gurman, you should expect to see a 15-inch MacBook Air with an M2 processor, as well as two desktops: one running Apple’s M2 Max chip and another with a new M2 Ultra processor.

The report indicates that the desktops should be new versions of Apple’s Mac Studio. That computer is meant to be a powerhouse system for professionals in need of strong performance in a compact package.

There’s no telling if Apple will actually roll out all of these products, or if it will have others we don’t yet know about. The only way to find out? Stay tuned to Yahoo Finance for all the latest news.

Daniel Howley is the tech editor at Yahoo Finance. He's been covering the tech industry since 2011. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHowley.

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