What to Expect at WWDC 2022: iOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9 and Possibly New Macs

The 33rd annual Worldwide Developers Conference is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. on June 6. It will be free for all developers to attend because it is a digital only event.

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We will get our first look at new operating system updates at the keynote event. We have heard a lot about this year's event.

iOS 16

We don't know much about the operating system update at the moment because most of the rumors have been vague. In the past, new versions of Apple's mobile operating system have leaked out early and given us an idea of the upcoming features, but not this year.

We've heard rumors about what to expect from Mark Gurman who has reliable sources with information on Apple's plans.

Rumored New Features

• Overhauled Lock screen with wallpapers that have "widget-like capabilities."
• There will be "significant" improvements to notifications, though we don't know specific details.
• Messages app with "social network-like functionality" with a specific focus on audio messages.
• Health app with expanded sleep tracking functionality and medicine management. Apple is working on a tool that will let users scan their pill bottles into the app, plus there are new women's health features expected.
• Fresh Apple apps are in the works, with no more specific information.
• Apple is also working on "new ways of system interaction," but it's not quite clear what that means.
• New Fitness+ workout types.
• Apple Music classical app with interface based on Primephonic, an app Apple acquired in 2021.

Possible Features Based on iPhone 14 Rumors

• Always-on display for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max (not coming until September).
• Likely revamped status bar interface for ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ and Pro Max to accommodate hole punch and pill design that is expected to replace the notch on those devices.
• The iPhone 14 models are expected to get a car crash detection feature, which would dial emergency services automatically when a collision is detected. This would require new ‌iOS 16‌ functionality.
• Apple may also add a satellite-based emergency feature to the ‌iPhone 14‌ models, which would be supported in ‌iOS 16‌. This feature would let iPhones send texts in emergency situations when there is no cellular coverage, and report major emergencies when coverage is not available.
• ‌iOS 16‌ could include support for the buy now, pay later feature for Apple Pay that Apple is developing.
• Similarly, it could introduce support for the hardware subscription program that will let customers pay a monthly fee for an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

For more on what we're expecting in Apple's mobile operating system, we have a dedicated post.

iPadOS 16

iPadOS 16 will get a lot of the new features that are introduced in iOS 16 but Apple is also working on additional iPad specific features.

One of the biggest updates will be the new iPad software, which will make the iPad behave like a laptop rather than a phone.

The update will feature a redesign of the multitasking interface that will make it easier to swap between tasks and it will allow users to resizing windows. New ways for users to deal with multiple apps at the same time will be implemented by Apple.

macOS 13

There have been few leaks about the feature set coming to macOS 13 An update to the System Preferences interface is rumored to bring it in line with the settings app on the iPhone and iPad.

Some of the default apps are expected to be updated so we can see improvements. Enhancements to audio messages are said to be getting social network-like functions. Messages usually has feature parity across platforms despite the rumors.

Based on Apple trademark filings, the new operating system could be called macOS 13 There are many California landmarks that Apple has registered trademarks for in the past, but the one that has remained active the longest is the one called "Mammoth", though its status is unknown at this time.

watchOS 9

Some updates for watchOS 9 will affect the day-to-day operation of the device.

• Updated power saving mode that will allow for the use of apps and features while cutting down on battery usage.
• Expanded atrial fibrillation detection feature with added "burden," aka how often a person is in a state of atrial fibrillation across a period of time.
• Improved health and activity tracking.
• More workout types.
• Additional metrics for running workouts.
• Refresh for existing watch faces.

tvOS 16

tvOS doesn't get as many new features as other operating systems, and we don't know a lot about tvOS 16, but it is rumored to include new smart home tie-ins. The launch of the update may allow you to do more with your smart home products.

Hardware Possibilities

We don't know if hardware will be announced at this year's event because the past several events have focused on software and not hardware. The devices listed are the most probable candidates.

MacBook Air

According to Mark Gurman, the MacBook Air is likely to be introduced at the event. The MacBook Air may not be introduced at the event due to supply chain issues in China.

The next-gen MacBook Air is expected to have a MacBook Pro-like shape that eliminates the tapered body. It will be similar to the iMac and will be thinner and lighter. The MacBook Air is expected to be around 13 inches in size with a matching off-white keyboard.

The next-gen M2 chip is expected to feature the same number of computing cores as the M1 but it will include speed improvements that make it marginally faster. The current M1 MacBook Air has seven or right in the graphics department.

The M2 chip will be the first upgrade to the M1 series of chips. According to an Apple analyst, Apple could focus on the redesign of the MacBook Air instead of new chip technology.

Apple will only be able to introduce an iterative update using the same N5P chip used for the A15 and the M1 because the next- generation TSMC N3 and N4P fabrication processes will not be ready for mass production until 2023.

There's more on the next-gen MacBook Air in our guide.

Mac Pro

There is a chance that we will see a similar show off of the new modular Mac Pro this year.

John Ternus, Apple's hardware engineering chief, said at the spring event that there is an Apple Silicon version of the Mac Pro in the works, and it is expected to be released in 2022.

A small preview of the Mac Pro could be given by Apple.

The rumor is that the Mac Pro will have a chip that is more powerful than the M1 Ultra. It is expected to be twice as powerful as the M1 Ultra due to the fact that it will have up to 40 and 128 graphicscores.

The M1 Ultra is essentially two connected M1 Max chips and could be a successor to the M1 Ultra. The Mac Pro chip will be four times more powerful than the M1 Max.

There were rumors last year that Apple's long-rumored augmented and virtual reality headset could be introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in 2022.

The headset isn't ready to be introduced at this point in time, as Apple still has some issues to work out, according to Mark Gurman. Gurman has said that Apple doesn't have plans for a "full-blown announcement" of the headset at the conference.

The operating system for the headset was discovered to have a foreign filing date of June 8, 2022. That's a legal requirement, and it looks like the date is unrelated to the event.

MacRumors Coverage

Apple plans to live stream the keynote on its website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube, but for those unable to watch, we'll be covering the event on macrumors.com and through the macrumorslive account

We will have in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements throughout the rest of the week, as well as testing the new software.