WWDC 2024: The best way to watch and what to anticipate

What’s going to Apple announce at WWDC 2024?

WWDC stands for the Worldwide Builders Convention and is devoted to the third-party software program and {hardware} builders that create apps and equipment for Apple’s platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and now Imaginative and prescient Professional. If you’re a developer now we have extra details about getting an invitation beneath.

Whereas devs are on the coronary heart of the occasion, it’s additionally a press occasion that Apple makes use of to announce its software program plans and doubtlessly some new Macs and different merchandise to the world. Every week earlier than the occasion, Apple issued a reminder concerning the keynote with the phrase “Motion packed,” so we’re anticipated various new stuff. Learn on to seek out out what we count on to see Apple unveil on the occasion, from software program and {hardware} to some solely new merchandise.

WWDC 2024: Software program releases

WWDC is all concerning the software program, so we might be sure that Apple will reveal particulars of its upcoming working system updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and Apple Watch. These updates will then be issued to builders as a beta to check, after which just a few weeks later a public beta will begin. Finally, the brand new software program will probably be accessible for everybody to obtain within the fall (normally September for iOS/iPadOS/watchOS and October for macOS, though in 2023 macOS Sonoma arrived in September). Right here’s what to anticipate:

iOS 18

The headliner of the occasion merely due to the sheer variety of iPhone homeowners throughout the planet. If you happen to’ve bought an iPhone made throughout the previous 5 years, you’ll seemingly be capable to set up the brand new model of iOS when it’s launched within the fall of 2024.

The rumors we’ve heard about iOS 18 thus far point out that it may very well be one of many largest iOS updates ever. You’ll be able to count on AI-specific options, together with generative AI updates to Siri, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Sarafi, and Messages. RCS assist can also be stated to be coming to iPhones in that time-frame. Person interface updates are additionally rumored, with new methods to prepare icons on the House display.

However earlier than then, there’s an entire beta-testing cycle to get by way of. iOS 18 will probably be introduced at WWDC 2024, after which launched as a developer beta (for registered app builders solely) virtually instantly after the keynote. Builders will then be capable to set up the iOS beta and some weeks later a public beta model will probably be made accessible for all customers who need to attempt the brand new options. Our recommendation is to be cautious and ready for severe flaws with the beta software program–it would even brick your machine.

Over the course of the following few months, the developer and public betas will undergo a testing course of the place options will probably be tweaked, modified, fastened, and up to date till we attain the completed iOS 18.0 public launch, more than likely in September.

Learn all of the rumors and our hopes for iOS 18 in our iOS 18 information.

iPadOS 18

The accompanying replace for iPad homeowners, iPadOS 18 is prone to incorporate a lot of the new options of iOS 18 however tailored to a larger-screen interface. When Apple’s two cellular working techniques break up in 2019 they had been related in most respects, however the iPad model is heading steadily into its personal realm.

In 2022, Apple launched iPad OS 16 a month after iOS 16, so it’s doable that the 2 variations don’t arrive on the identical time.

macOS 15

What’s Apple bought in retailer for its follow-up to macOS Sonoma? We’ll discover out at WWDC 2024.

This model will probably be numbered macOS 15, however what’s much less predictable is the California landmark Apple will title the model after. To date we’ve had: Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, Excessive Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Huge Sur, Monterey, Ventura and Sonoma. Based mostly on the emblems Apple has utilized for, macOS Rincon or Skyline may very well be seemingly.

We’ll share all of the rumors and our hopes for macOS 15 in our macOS 15 information.

visionOS 2

Now that the Imaginative and prescient Professional is on sale you possibly can count on to listen to about new software program options coming to the machine at WWDC. Apple is prone to have issues to say about new apps being made for the machine in addition to third-party software program that’s being created for Imaginative and prescient Professional. Stories claims that visionOS 2 will repair a number of the points, together with the dearth of some native Apple apps.

watchOS 11

The brand new working system for the Apple Watch will probably be revealed at WWDC 2024. That is extra of a distinct segment than the iPhone, iPad, and Mac updates mentioned above however might deliver extra well being and health options to Apple Watch homeowners around the globe. Count on AI to have an effect right here as effectively.

tvOS 18

The bottom-profile of the large Apple working techniques, tvOS is the platform that runs on the Apple TV. tvOS is mostly gentle on new options, however the push into AI might change that, with new discovery and search instruments.

HomePod software program model 18

Apple can also be prone to replace the software program on the HomePod and HomePod mini alongside the opposite working techniques. In 2022 Apple launched HomePod Software program Model 16 which didn’t deliver plenty of new options on the time, however a later replace: HomePod Software program Model 16.3 introduced temperature and humidity sensing to the HomePod mini and extra. We might hear extra about Apple’s plans for the HomePod in the course of the WWDC occasion–particularly as Apple is rumored to planning large modifications to the HomePod.

Different software program

You can too count on Apple to replace its developer-focused apps, like Swift, Xcode, and TestFlight.

Apple

Apple

Apple

WWDC 2024: {Hardware} releases

WWDC tends to be a software-focused occasion, however Apple has typically discovered time throughout its WWDC keynotes to launch {hardware} merchandise too. The primary few iPhone revisions—iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S—had been all launched at WWDC, and the HomePod had its unveiling on the occasion in 2017 as effectively.

Nevertheless, the occasion has targeted on Mac releases in recent times. Apple unveiled the iMac Professional in 2017 alongside updates to the iMac, MacBook, and MacBook Professional, and introduced a brand new Mac Professional and the Professional Show XDR in June 2019. At WWDC 2020, Apple introduced the transition from Intel to Apple silicon, and WWDC 2022 noticed Apple launch the M2 chip within the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional. WWDC 2023 noticed Apple introduce the Imaginative and prescient Professional, 15-inch MacBook Air, and the Mac Studio and Mac Professional with M2 Extremely chip.

What’s within the {hardware} pipeline for Apple proper now? {Hardware} appears unlikely for this occasion attributable to a heavy give attention to AI, however there are nonetheless some potentialities for surprises:

Imaginative and prescient Professional

The Imaginative and prescient Professional launched within the U.S. in February, however it’s nonetheless not accessible elsewhere on the earth. We count on Apple to announce availability for the U.Ok., Europe, Canada and Australia at WWDC in June. Much less seemingly is the launch of a less expensive mannequin, which we’ve heard is within the work however not prone to launch till later subsequent yr. Learn extra right here: Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional: All the pieces it’s essential to know.

New Macs

We have already got M3, M3 Professional, and M3 Max, and updates to the Mac mini and Mac Studio are overdue. Nevertheless, the Mac Studio and Mac Professional aren’t on Apple’s 2024 launch schedule. Apple launched the M4 chip with the brand new iPad Professional, so it appears like Apple is completed with the M3 collection. The M4 MacBook Professional isn’t anticipated till later this yr, so it’s doable we might not see any new Macs at WWDC24.

Mac Professional

Through the years, together with in 2023, new Mac Professional fashions have been launched at WWDC. Nevertheless, a Mac Professional replace might not occur at WWDC24. Learn what we all know concerning the M3/M4 Mac Professional.

Mac Studio

A current report acknowledged that the Mac Studio will not be on Apple’s 2024 launch schedule, so it will not be upgraded at WWDC24. Learn extra right here: Mac Studio M3/M4 rumors.

Mac mini

Now that the iMac and MacBook Air have an M3 chip, and the MacBook Professional an M3, M3 Professional, and M3 Max chip, it appears as if it’s solely a matter of time earlier than those self same chips make their means into the Mac mini. Nevertheless, Apple might resolve to attend till 2025 to replace the Mac mini with M4-series chips. Learn our new Mac mini rumors.

iMac

For a while there have been rumors that the iMac Professional will make a return, within the type of a M3 Professional and presumably M3 Max model of Apple’s all-in-one. This might make an look at WWDC 2024, however rumors do appear to counsel we may very well be ready somewhat longer for this bigger iMac. Learn the rumors about Apple’s plans for the iMac Professional.

The best way to attend WWDC

If you wish to attend the WWDC Keynote in individual it’s essential to be ready to enter a lottery and apply for a ticket alongside different builders. There may be plenty of competitors for these tickets, that are randomly chosen from these to use and aren’t transferable. The excellent news is that tickets are free. The unhealthy information is that they have already been allotted for 2024.

Apple invitations builders to take part in a collection of lessons, workshops, and periods to study concerning the system-wide modifications coming to the main software program platforms within the coming yr to allow them to replace their apps. Some fortunate builders even get to look at the occasion reside in individual.

Apple has stopped taking requests to attend the keynote. It was open to the next:

• Present Apple Developer Program members.
• Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni.
• Swift Pupil Problem winners; 2024 problem candidates will probably be included in a separate random choice course of for winners (in early Might 2023 Apple started alerting the fortunate few of their standing as winners).
• Present Apple Developer Enterprise Program members.

The fortunate candidates had been notified of their success in getting a ticket originally of April 2024.

Yow will discover out extra about find out how to get tickets to WWDC in our FAQ.

WWDC keynote tickets have been free and randomly distributed for the previous few years, however it beforehand value $1,599 for builders to attend and people tickets offered out in a short time.

Even with out a ticket, all registered Apple builders get on-line entry to session movies, slides, and pattern code all through the week.

Apple will share further convention data prematurely of WWDC24 by way of the Apple Developer app.

Additional studying

We’ll replace this text commonly within the run-up to WWDC, so test again to see the newest information.

For a broader view of the yr’s plans, take a look at our information to the new Apple merchandise coming in 2024.