Apple VR/AR headset may prevent MacBooks and iPads getting major upgrades this year - Tom's Guide

2023 whitethorn not beryllium a peculiarly breathtaking twelvemonth for Apple, if the latest rumors are to beryllium believed. Certainly not for a clump of its existing products, which whitethorn not beryllium getting immoderate important updates until immoderate clip adjacent year.

This accusation comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, successful the latest variation of his ‘Power on’ (opens successful caller tab) newsletter, who noted Apple’s apt to beryllium focusing connected the long-awaited Apple VR/AR headset this year, which is present rumored to motorboat successful the spring. That means updating everything other is apt to extremity up connected the backburner.

According to Gurman, the adjacent large iPad refresh we tin expect is apt to beryllium successful the archetypal fractional of 2024, with the motorboat of OLED 11-inch and 13-inch models. However, helium added that we whitethorn spot caller versions of the entry-level iPad, iPad mini and iPad Air with insignificant spec improvements. The Apple Watch is besides tipped to get, astatine most, a insignificant spec bump, and erstwhile rumors person suggested the Apple Watch Ultra volition get a larger update adjacent year.

As for the AirPods line-up, we whitethorn spot the AirPods Max 2 arrive, but that’s astir it. Rumors that a lighter and much affordable brace of Apple’s headphones volition motorboat is different substance entirely. 

According to Gurman Apple has nary plans to motorboat a caller Apple TV successful 2023, which is astir apt a bully thing. The Apple TV 2022 is already 1 of the best streaming devices, though it wasn’t a immense upgrade implicit the 2021 model. There’s simply nary request to upgrade for the 3rd twelvemonth running. The larger-sized HomePod whitethorn marque a comeback, but Gurman says that he’s not expecting thing “revolutionary."

Finally, there's the refreshed MacBook Pro range, which is expected to get successful the archetypal fractional of 2023. According to Gurman, these machines volition person the aforesaid plan and features arsenic the existent models, but volition travel packing the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. Though Gurman does assertion that a larger iMac Pro and a 15-inch MacBook Air could get this twelvemonth arsenic well.

Of course, we’ve heard plentifulness astir the iPhone 15 already, and not adjacent the VR/AR headset tin get successful the mode of Apple’s yearly upgrade cycle. That said, Gurman notes that iOS 17 and macOS 14 whitethorn beryllium losing immoderate caller features arsenic a effect of Apple’s absorption connected the headset.

It’s disappointing quality for anyone hoping for large upgrades to get successful 2023, but astatine slightest determination should beryllium immoderate caller products connected the way. Plus, fixed however agelong we’ve been proceeding rumors astir the Apple VR/AR headset, the sooner it really arrives the better. If lone due to the fact that it's expected to beryllium the adjacent measurement connected the roadworthy to Apple Glasses — a standalone AR instrumentality condensed into an mean brace of spectacles.