2023 was a comparatively iterative yr for Apple product releases, however there have been nonetheless many notable bulletins and surprises all year long. Apple previewed its upcoming Imaginative and prescient Professional headset, the full-sized HomePod made a comeback, the iPhone lastly switched to USB-C, leather-based equipment had been discontinued, and way more.
Beneath, we recap a number of the most noteworthy Apple information tales of 2023, in no explicit order.
Behold the Imaginative and prescient Professional
After a number of years of rumors about Apple planning an augmented actuality/digital actuality headset, the corporate formally unveiled the Imaginative and prescient Professional in June. Apple says the headset might be out there within the U.S. beginning in early 2024, with pricing set at a staggering $3,499.
Imaginative and prescient Professional will mean you can work together with apps as if they’re floating within the air. The headset is powered by an all-new working system known as visionOS, and it may be managed together with your eyes and palms. It has an Apple Watch-like Digital Crown for switching between digital actuality and augmented actuality, and it’s powered by an exterior battery pack.
Learn our Imaginative and prescient Professional roundup for extra particulars concerning the headset.
The Return of the HomePod
The complete-sized HomePod made a comeback this yr, as Apple introduced a brand new mannequin in January.
The second-generation HomePod encompasses a just about similar design because the full-sized mannequin that was discontinued in 2021. Nevertheless, it has two fewer tweeters and two fewer microphones in comparison with the unique mannequin, and it has an added sensor that may measure temperature and humidity in indoor environments. Many early critiques of the newest HomePod mentioned it has very related sound high quality as the unique mannequin.
Within the U.S., the HomePod is priced at $299, with white and midnight shade choices out there.
iPhone Goes USB-C — Lastly!
It lastly occurred. After years of hopes and rumors, all iPhone 15 fashions are geared up with a USB-C port as a substitute of Lightning.
Whereas the USB-C port on iPhones is utterly normal, solely the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max assist USB 3.2 information switch speeds of as much as 10 Gbps. The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are restricted to USB 2.0 information switch speeds of as much as 480 Mbps, which is the same as Lightning speeds on earlier iPhones.
All iPhone 15 fashions can cost an Apple Watch, AirPods case, and different small equipment related to the USB-C port, and assist DisplayPort for as much as 4K HDR video mirroring and video output to an exterior show or TV.
Apple nonetheless sells a handful of gadgets and equipment with Lightning ports, all of which is able to seemingly be up to date with USB-C or discontinued sooner or later.
Inexperienced Bubble Goals
In November, Apple introduced that it’ll assist the cross-platform messaging normal RCS within the Messages app on the iPhone beginning “later subsequent yr.” Based mostly on that timeframe, RCS assist will seemingly be added as a part of iOS 18.
RCS assist ought to end result within the following enhancements to the default messaging expertise between iPhones and Android gadgets:
- Increased-resolution pictures and movies
- Audio messages
- Typing indicators
- Learn receipts
- Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android gadgets
- Improved group chats, together with the power for iPhone customers to go away a dialog that features Android customers
- Improved encryption in comparison with SMS
These fashionable options are already out there for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations with blue bubbles, through iMessage, and most of the options are additionally out there in third-party messaging apps, corresponding to WhatsApp and Telegram. RCS assist on the iPhone will lengthen the options to inexperienced bubbles within the Messages app.
Google had been urging Apple to undertake RCS for a number of years.
All of the Apple Pockets Information
2023 was a giant yr for the Apple Pockets app on the iPhone, as a number of new options launched, together with the Apple Card financial savings account, Apple Pay Later financing choice, and extra. Nevertheless, it wasn’t all excellent news on this entrance, because it was reported that the Apple Card’s monetary associate Goldman Sachs might be out within the subsequent yr or so.
M3 Trio
Throughout its Halloween-themed “Scary Quick” occasion in October, Apple introduced the M3, M3 Professional, and M3 Max chips for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional all of sudden, somewhat than holding the Professional and Max chips for a later time.
Apple up to date the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions with M3 Professional and M3 Max chips, and there may be additionally an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Professional with the usual M3 chip. Different new options for the laptops embrace a Area Black end for M3 Professional and M3 Max configurations, and 20% brighter shows for normal content material.
Goodbye Leather-based, Hey FineWoven
As a part of its efforts to be environmentally pleasant, Apple discontinued all of its leather-based equipment this yr, together with iPhone circumstances, Apple Watch bands, AirTag holders, the MagSafe Pockets, and extra. Apple unveiled a brand new FineWoven materials as a alternative for leather-based, however prospects complained about high quality points.
Bloomberg‘s Jessica Nix referred to FineWoven as Apple’s “largest dud of 2023.”
Closing Lower Professional for iPad
YouTubers rejoiced this yr when Apple expanded its video creation app Closing Lower Professional to the iPad. The app was beforehand solely out there on the Mac.
Apple says Closing Lower Professional for the iPad is optimized for the system’s touch-first interface, offering the “final cell studio for video and music creators.” The app is priced at $4.99 monthly or $49 per yr within the U.S., after a one-month free trial, and it’s suitable with iPad fashions geared up with the M1 chip or newer.
Apple additionally launched its music creation app Logic Professional for the iPad.
Subsequent-Technology CarPlay Teaser
Apple mentioned that the primary autos with assist for its next-generation CarPlay system could be introduced in late 2023, and it delivered on that promise with simply days to spare. Earlier this month, Aston Martin and Porsche previewed what the next-generation CarPlay expertise will appear like in a few of their upcoming autos.
Aston Martin confirmed that it’ll launch its first autos with next-generation CarPlay in 2024, however there isn’t a particular timeframe and particulars stay slim.
Apple first previewed the next-generation CarPlay expertise in June 2022, promising deeper integration with the instrument cluster and local weather controls, assist for a number of shows throughout the dashboard, a devoted FM radio app, widgets, and extra. The interface might be tailor-made to every particular automobile mannequin and automaker’s model identification.
When first unveiling next-generation CarPlay final yr, Apple mentioned dedicated automakers included Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo. Past the addition of Aston Martin, it is unclear if this listing has modified since that preliminary announcement.
Apple Watch Gross sales Ban
Earlier this month, Apple paused gross sales of the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and Apple Watch Extremely 2 within the U.S. on account of a patent dispute with medical tech firm Masimo, which has accused Apple of poaching its workers and stealing commerce secrets and techniques with the intention to develop the blood oxygen sensing function out there on the Apple Watch Sequence 6 and newer.
In January, the U.S. Worldwide Commerce Fee dominated that Apple had infringed on a Masimo patent associated to blood oxygen sensing, and it ordered an import and gross sales ban for Apple Watch fashions providing the function. Nevertheless, Apple appealed the choice in court docket and was granted a brief keep, so the ban is lifted for now.
