What to Expect From Apple This Spring: New Macs and More

February has been a relatively quiet month for Apple so far beyond the new HomePod arriving to customers, but things should pick up soon. Apple is rumored to have at least three new product announcements planned for the period of March through June, including a new Mac Pro, a 15-inch MacBook Air, and its long-awaited AR/VR headset. Apple often introduces a new iPhone color or two in the spring too, and that tradition could continue this year.

Mac Pro VR Headset New iPhone Color Triptych Feature
Below, we have recapped what to expect from Apple this spring based on the latest rumors. As always, Apple's plans could change at any time.

New Mac Pro

Mac Pro Feature Teal
Apple is widely expected to release a new Mac Pro with Apple silicon this year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the high-end desktop computer will be available with a new M2 Ultra chip, which would make it the fastest Mac ever. He expects the new Mac Pro to have the same design as the 2019 model, but lack user-upgradeable RAM. A higher-end "M2 Extreme" chip for the computer was apparently cancelled.

Last month, Gurman said Apple was internally testing a new Mac Pro running macOS 13.3, which is expected to be publicly released this spring. Given this, it's possible that Apple could release the new Mac Pro and macOS 13.3 around March or April, but there is still no definitive timeframe for the computer's release this year, so there remains a chance that the new Mac Pro is announced at WWDC 2023 in June or later in the year.

AR/VR Headset

apple ar headset concept 1

Apple Headset mockup by Ian Zelbo

Apple has been rumored to be working on a headset with both augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities for years now, and rumors suggest the company will finally introduce the device in 2023. Last month, reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the headset is likely to debut at an Apple Event this spring or at WWDC in June.

Apple's headset will reportedly feature dual 4K micro-LED lenses, over a dozen cameras, M2 and H2 chips, advanced eye and hand tracking, a physical knob similar to the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch, an iOS-like interface with a grid of apps, the ability to function as an external display for a Mac, and more. Apple is expected to give developers time to create AR and VR apps for the headset before releasing it later in the year.

15" MacBook Air

MacBook Air M2 Chip Purple Feature
Apple's supply chain started production of display panels for a new 15.5-inch MacBook Air this month, according to display industry analyst Ross Young, who has a very good track record with rumors about future Apple products over the past few years.

Young expects the new MacBook Air to launch in early April, but it is possible that an announcement and pre-orders could occur sooner. Apple often holds a spring event to announce new products, such as in March 2022 and April 2021.

A new 15-inch display size option would be the largest ever for the MacBook Air. Young did not provide any additional details about the new model, including whether it would be equipped with the M2 chip or the next-generation 3nm-based M3 chip, which Apple has yet to announce. Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC began mass production of 3nm chips in December, but it's unclear if the M3 chip would be ready by April.

New iPhone Color?

purple iphone 12 and 12 mini
Apple often releases at least one new iPhone color in the spring, and that tradition could potentially continue this year.

At its March 2022 event, Apple introduced a new Alpine Green color for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, and a new Green color for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. In April 2021, Apple made the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini available in Purple.

In the past, Apple released a new (PRODUCT)RED color for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 series.

Related Roundup: Mac Pro
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Mac Pro

Top Rated Comments

Rychiar Avatar
6 weeks ago
I just want a new iMac! is it that hard?!
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
6 weeks ago
I like to see the larger IMac return to its glory in a new design using M2 Pro/Max SoC's.

I also like to see what the Mac Pro turns out to be like.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
6 weeks ago
Hate to keep repeating myself, but all I’m really interested in is HomeKit being fixed.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nsully59 Avatar
6 weeks ago

Yep, I miss in person events. There's special magic in them.
I don't know. I kinda like not hearing the forced seal-clapping and "woooo!" from an audience (or, worse, NO reaction when the presenter is obviously expecting some :D ). These pre-produced things are error/glitch free and pretty neat to watch (the editing, transitions, graphics, etc.). Trotting out a fear-of-public-speaking CEO of some third-party tech/gaming company to rattle on for 10-12 minutes, live on stage while trying to sound breezy/witty/hip, is painful. The video-based events/presentations can bypass all that awkward, dead space of past live events. I've grown to like them. They seem a bit tighter/more focused overall.

Post-Steve, these things just aren't what they used to be. I had the joy of watching all those 1998-2010-ish Macworld (including New York, Paris and Tokyo), WWDC, NAB, standalone events, etc. with Steve holding the stage for 90+ minutes...and never once glancing at the clock and thinking "when is this going to be over?!", which is about all I do now with Tim and his rotating cast of presenters. Wanna talk about "special magic". Those too young to have sat through those - either in person or online - as they happened really missed something special; thankfully they're mostly all on YouTube.

That January 2007 introduction of the iPhone is the best presentation/product unveiling I've ever seen. Perfection (and, reading the behind-the-scenes story of it all, with a flaky, barely-reliable demo model, technical hurdles galore and last-minute tweaks to the presentation and features to be highlighted, it's nothing short of a miracle that it went as well as it did). It could've (should've?) been an absolute train wreck!
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
clunkmess Avatar
6 weeks ago
M2 iMac??
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ? Avatar
6 weeks ago
It would be amazing if Apple can release iPhone 14 Pro line up in Product Red, please. I've been waiting for this for a very long time now. Make it happen!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 16

iOS 16.4 for iPhone Nearing Launch With These 5 New Features

Monday March 20, 2023 11:50 am PDT by
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April. iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...
iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Leak Reveals Unified Volume Button and Mute Button

Monday March 20, 2023 8:33 am PDT by
As previously rumored, the next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a unified volume button and a mute button, according to leaked CAD images shared in a video on the Chinese version of TikTok and posted to Twitter by ShrimpApplePro. Instead of separate buttons for volume up and volume down, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have a single elongated button for...
voice isolation

iOS 16.4 Adds Voice Isolation for Cellular Phone Calls

Tuesday March 21, 2023 11:01 am PDT by
The iOS 16.4 update that is set to be released to the public in the near future includes voice isolation for cellular calls, according to notes that Apple shared today. Apple says that Voice Isolation will prioritize your voice and block out the ambient noise around you, making for clearer phone calls where you can better hear the person you're chatting with and vice versa. Voice...
airpodsd 3 purple 4

iOS 16.4 Seemingly References New AirPods and AirPods Case

Tuesday March 21, 2023 11:43 am PDT by
The iOS 16.4 release candidate version that was provided to developers today appears to hint at a new set of AirPods that could be coming in the near future. According to @aaronp613, the beta features references to AirPods that have a model number of A3048 and an AirPods case with a model number of A2968. There have been no rumors that new AirPods are on the horizon, and it is early for...
maxresdefault

Nothing Launches $149 Ear (2) Wireless Earbuds to Compete With AirPods Pro 2

Wednesday March 22, 2023 9:48 am PDT by
Nothing today announced the launch of its second-generation wireless earbuds, the Nothing Ear (2), which offer many of the same features as Apple's AirPods Pro 2 at a lower price point. We went hands-on with the Ear (2) earbuds to see whether they're a viable alternative to the AirPods Pro 2 for those who want to save some cash. The Ear (2) earbuds are the successor to the Nothing Ear (1),...
iOS 16

Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers [Update: Public RC Available]

Tuesday March 21, 2023 10:25 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the launch of the fourth betas. The RCs mark the final version of the software that will be provided to the public in the near future. Registered developers are able to download the iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates...
apple park at night 1

Apple 'Tracking Employee Attendance' in Crackdown on Remote Working

Thursday March 23, 2023 3:41 am PDT by
Apple is tracking the attendance of its employees at offices using badge records in order to ensure they are coming in at least three times a week, according to Platformer's Zoë Schiffer. Since April 2022, Apple employees have been operating on a hybrid home/office work policy as part of a gradual return strategy following the pandemic, with staff required to work from the office at least...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Rumor Recap: 10 New Features and Changes to Expect

Thursday March 23, 2023 6:42 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 series is still around six months away from launching, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes have been rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in particular. Below, we have recapped 10 changes rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A1...