Apple today announced visionOS 2, the first major update to the Vision Pro's operating system. The first visionOS 2 beta is now available for Apple Developer Program members, and the update will be released to the public later this year.
visionOS 2 includes a range of new features and changes, such as a redesigned Photos app with SharePlay support, the ability to turn existing 2D photos into spatial photos with machine learning, new hand gestures for frequently used features like Home View and Control Center, a larger ultra-wide version of Mac Virtual Display that is equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side, and support for a physical mouse.
visionOS 2 also adds a basic feature that was missing on the Vision Pro at launch: the ability to rearrange apps and place them wherever you want.
Travel Mode gains support for trains on visionOS 2, while the Guest User option can now save a guest's eye and hand data for 30 days.
visionOS 2 includes new APIs and frameworks for developers of Vision Pro apps, such as HealthKit for health data and TabletopKit for tabletop games.
Apple's press release outlined some additional visionOS 2 features, such as AirPlay receiving mode and systemwide Live Captions:
- While in Safari, users can watch videos in an Environment, including on popular sites such as YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon. While scrolling through webpages, users can tap on panoramic photos and immerse themselves as the image wraps around them. Siri can also read and speak the content of a webpage while users multitask. - The Apple TV app brings support for multiview to Apple Vision Pro for the ultimate sports-viewing experience. Later this year, fans will be able to watch up to five simultaneous streams so they can keep track of all their favorite sports and teams. - To help users achieve calm and focus, the Mindfulness app includes a new capability called Follow Your Breathing that presents dynamic visual animations and sounds that respond to the user’s breathing patterns. - Systemwide Live Captions help everyone — including users who are deaf or hard of hearing — follow along with spoken dialogue in live conversations and in audio from apps. - Users can view content on their Vision Pro with AirPlay from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Apple also announced that the Vision Pro will be launching in eight additional countries by mid-July, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, China, Japan, and Singapore. The headset first launched in the U.S. in February.
Apple has taken down its online store ahead of its WWDC 2024 keynote at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today. This is a common marketing tactic for the company.
During the keynote, Apple is expected to unveil major software updates across its platforms, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and more. Apple's online store going down ahead of events often means new hardware will be announced too, but we will simply have to wait and see if that is the case.
Three possibilities for the store being down could include a minor product release like AirPods Max with a USB-C port, international availability of the Apple Vision Pro headset, or preparations for Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students. Alternatively, maybe Apple just took down the store to create additional hype.
In any case, we'll find out in a matter of minutes!
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day.
We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements with a focus on Apple's efforts to infuse AI throughout its operating systems and apps. We'll be seeing Apple take the wraps off iOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and more, although we're not expecting to see any hardware introduced today.
Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV and Developer apps across its platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
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While rumors suggest that iOS 18, macOS 15, and tvOS 18 will largely be compatible with the same iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV models as the current versions of each platform are, it could be a much different story for watchOS 11.
In a post on social media platform X today, a proven leaker claimed that watchOS 11 will drop support for the Apple Watch Series 4 from 2018, Apple Watch Series 5 from 2019, and first-generation Apple Watch SE from 2020. The update would be compatible with all other models, including the Apple Watch Series 6 and beyond.
Even though the Series 5 has an S5 chip, it has the same processor as the S4 chip in the Series 4, so it would not be too surprising if Apple dropped support for these models simultaneously. Key changes with the Series 5 compared to the Series 4 included an always-on display option, increased storage, and a compass.
The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.
We'll find out official watchOS compatibility details during the WWDC keynote in just a few hours.
Just ahead of WWDC, we have another last-minute compatibility rumor to share from a proven leaker, with this one relating to the Apple TV.
In a post on social media platform X today, the leaker claimed that tvOS 18 will remain compatible with the Apple TV HD, released in 2015.
If so, tvOS 18 would be compatible with all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models, meaning there would be no change compared to tvOS 17:
Apple TV HD (2015)
Apple TV 4K (2017)
Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation) (2021)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) (2022)
Given that HomePods run a variant of tvOS, the leaker thinks the next HomePod software update is likely to support all HomePods, including the original 2018 model.
The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.
Apple will unveil tvOS 18 and other major software updates during the WWDC keynote, which begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today.
Just hours before Apple announces macOS 15 during its WWDC keynote today, a proven leaker has revealed alleged compatibility details for the software update.
In a post on X, the leaker said macOS 15 will be compatible with all Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip and newer, and all Intel-based Macs equipped with Apple's T2 security chip. If this information is accurate, macOS 15 would be compatible with all Macs that support macOS Sonoma, with one possible exception: the 2019 iMac.
macOS Sonoma is compatible with the 2019 iMac, which does not have a T2 chip, so it is unclear if that model will support macOS 15 or be dropped.
Here is the rumored compatibility list for macOS 15:
MacBook Pro: 2018 and later
MacBook Air: 2018 and later
Mac mini: 2018 and later
iMac: 2019 and later*
iMac Pro: 2017
Mac Studio: 2022 and later
Mac Pro: 2019 and later
* iMac would be 2020 and later if a T2 chip is required.
Even if macOS 15 supports many Intel-based Macs, new on-device AI capabilities will likely be limited to Apple silicon Macs, which have a Neural Engine.
The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.
What name will Apple use for macOS 15? That remains a mystery.
Apple's WWDC 2024 begins today, with the event kicking off at 10:00 am Pacific Time via the traditional opening keynote. We know that some MacRumors readers who can't follow the event as it's being broadcast are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until the event video is available for on-demand viewing so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.
For those individuals, we've posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.
Replays of Apple's recent events have been made available to view almost immediately following the conclusion of the broadcasts, and we expect similar timing for today's event.
Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events as they occur refrain from making any posts about Apple's announcements in this thread.
iPadOS 18 will drop support for iPad models equipped with the A10X Fusion chip, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates.
In other words, iPadOS 18 will drop support for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Support for the sixth-generation iPad, which uses the regular A10 Fusion chip, is also being dropped. However, iPadOS 18 will continue to work on the seventh-generation iPad, according to the source.
iPadOS 18 will therefore be compatible with the following iPad models:
iPad Pro: 2018 and later
iPad Air: 2019 and later
iPad mini: 2019 and later
iPad: 2019 and later
Apple is expected to announce iPadOS 18 alongside iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins June 10, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPad in September.
Apple is expected to introduce a slew of AI-related features, collectively dubbed "Apple Intelligence," but only iPads powered by an M1 chip or later will support on-device AI capabilities.
Apple also plans to introduce a built-in Calculator app for the iPad with iPadOS 18. The app will be a "universal" app able to run on the iPhone, iPad, and macOS, allowing for a similar look and function across all three devices.
To kick off WWDC 2024, Apple will hold a keynote event on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time to announce the new software. For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account, so make sure to follow.
iOS 18 will be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS updates.
iOS 18 will be compatible with the iPhone XR, and hence also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip, but older iPhone models will miss out. Here is the full compatibility list for iOS 18:
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins June 10, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.
The same source says iPadOS 18 will drop support for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which use the A10X Fusion chip. The sixth-generation iPad is also being dropped from the compatibility list, but the seventh-generation iPad will still be supported.
To kick off WWDC 2024, Apple will hold a keynote event on the Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time to announce the new software. For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account, so make sure to follow.
On Friday we tracked new all-time low prices on the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, and today Amazon has expanded this sale with record low prices on the 15-inch models as well. Thanks to these additional deals, every single model of the M3 MacBook Air is now available at an all-time low price.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Starting with the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, you can get the 256GB model for $1,129.00, down from $1,299.00. Both 512GB models are available on sale as well, and most have delivery dates for as soon as June 11 for United States residences.
Secondly, Amazon still has $200 off the 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, now available for $899.00 in every color, down from $1,099.00. Just like the 15-inch models, you can also find both 512GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale at best-ever prices.
The 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference will take place the week of June 10 to June 14, and like the last four years, it will be an online event, although select developers and students will be invited to Apple Park. To kick things off, Apple holds a keynote event on the Monday to announce new software, which is what makes it of interest to the general public.
During the keynote event on Monday, June 10, Apple is expected to unveil iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2. The company is also likely to announce new artificial intelligence features collectively called Apple Intelligence, a heavily rumored partnership deal with OpenAI, and possibly more besides.
You can watch the WWDC 2024 keynote event using one of the methods outlined below. The live stream is set to start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time from Apple Park in Cupertino, California. We have a full list of when the event will begin in other time zones in the United States and around the world.
Honolulu, Hawaii -- 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska -- 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona -- 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado -- 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas -- 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada -- 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom -- 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa -- 7:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland -- 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey -- 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India -- 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia -- 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China -- 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore -- 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia -- 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong -- 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea -- 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan -- 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia -- 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia -- 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand -- 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
Watch the Keynote on YouTube
Watching the WWDC keynote on YouTube may be one of the quickest and easiest ways to catch the event because YouTube is generally available on most devices, including TV sets and consoles.
The YouTube live stream above will be accessible on June 10 when the event kicks off.
Watch the Keynote on Mac, iPhone or iPad
You can watch the WWDC keynote on any Mac, iPhone, or iPad using Apple's native Safari browser or another browser like Chrome. iOS devices must be running iOS 10 or later, and Macs need to be running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later to access the stream.
You can watch the WWDC keynote via Apple's TV app on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, with the link in the TV app becoming available on the day of the event or just before.
Open the TV app on your chosen device.
Scroll down the Watch Now category and select WWDC 2024. Alternatively, type "WWDC" into the Search field and select WWDC 2024 from the results.
Click Play.
The app may tell you to tune in at your local time to watch the event live prior to when the WWDC keynote begins.
Watch the Keynote on a Windows PC
If you don't have an Apple device handy, you can still watch the WWDC 2024 keynote on a PC running Windows 10 or later. Open Microsoft Edge browser and follow this link to the WWDC 2024 Livestream.
While Apple offers no guarantees, other platforms may also be able to access the WWDC 2024 keynote using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC codecs/extensions must be installed).
Watch in the Apple Developer App or Developer Website
For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account, so make sure to follow.
iOS 18 will extend Dark Mode to the iPhone's Home Screen app icons, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Introduced with iOS 13, Dark Mode already darkens some Home Screen elements, such as the dock and folders. iOS 18 will go further by automatically giving app icons a dark/black tint when Dark Mode when is turned on. The feature will initially be limited to built-in Apple apps, but perhaps there will be an API that allows third-party apps to support it.
We believe that the dark app icons paired with a dark wallpaper will give the Home Screen a full-blown Dark Mode appearance for the first time.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that iOS 18 will let users change the colors of app icons, and this dark tint is related to that feature.
Apple will unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on Monday. The first iOS 18 beta will likely be made available to Apple Developer Program members immediately after the keynote, and the update should be widely released in September.
iOS 18 will offer a new security feature that allows users to lock individual apps, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
This feature will give users the option to lock built-in iPhone apps like Mail, Messages, Notes, Phone, Photos, Safari, Settings, and more, providing an extra layer of privacy and security. Unlocking an app would require Face ID authentication, and it is likely that the feature will also work with Touch ID or an iPhone's passcode.
We have not confirmed if the feature will work with third-party apps from the App Store.
Apple already allows certain content to be locked behind Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, such as notes in the Notes app and photos in the "Recently Deleted" and "Hidden" albums in the Photos app. This new iOS 18 feature will take things further by allowing for apps to be locked entirely, even if the iPhone is unlocked overall.
iPhone users have already found ways to lock apps with Screen Time or Shortcuts, but these methods will no longer be necessary on iOS 18.
Apple will unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on Monday. The first iOS 18 beta will likely be made available to Apple Developer Program members immediately after the keynote, and the update should be widely released in September.
WWDC is right around the corner! All eyes will be on Cupertino next week as Apple takes the wraps off the next major updates to iOS, macOS, and other platforms.
Artificial intelligence is the hottest buzzword in technology these days, and Apple will be getting on that train with Monday's announcements, pushing beyond its existing machine learning features to deploy more sophisticated AI capabilities across its operating systems and apps.
In addition to the WWDC excitement, this week also saw some fresh news and rumors about the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, the just-released iPad Air, and the Vision Pro, so read on below for all the details!
Everything We're Expecting to See at the WWDC 2024 Keynote
While we're not expecting any new hardware at Monday's keynote, it should still be a jam-packed affair with lots of software news to be discussed and a big focus on AI.
As is tradition, we've rounded up an extensive list of rumors about the software features that Apple will unveil at WWDC, but there will still be plenty of surprises given the scope of the updates.
A live stream of the presentation will be available on the Apple Events website and YouTube, and in the Apple TV and Apple Developer apps, while MacRumors will also have live coverage of the event.
Leaked dimensions for the iPhone 16 Pro models this week revealed that the bezels on the devices could be 25% to 30% thinner than on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Apple will reportedly achieve this feat by using so-called "Border Reduction Structure" technology.
Apple Says iPad Air Performance Details Are Accurate Despite 9-Core GPU Mistake
Apple has since corrected the mistake on its website, and it said that the performance claims that it made when announcing the new iPad Air models are still accurate, despite the error in the tech specs for the devices.
Apple Vision Pro Likely to Launch Internationally in July
A source familiar with the matter told MacRumors that the Vision Pro is scheduled to launch internationally in July. This timeframe suggests that Apple might announce international availability details for the headset during its WWDC keynote on June 10.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple today shared a funny new ad that focuses on the Double Tap feature available on the Apple Watch. In the spot, a man catches a giant fish and while he attempts to wrangle it, he is able to use Double Tap to trigger the Apple Watch to take a photo on a connected iPhone.
The Apple Watch has a dedicated Camera Remote app, and when opened, it activates the camera on the iPhone. Focusing can be done with a tap on the display, and an image can be captured with either the timer button in the Apple Watch app or the Double Tap gesture.
Double Tap is available on the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It allows several Apple Watch functions to be activated with one hand by tapping a thumb and index finger together twice. The feature uses sensors in the Apple Watch to detect minute movements and blood flow to recognize the gesture.
Apple will likely use this short ad on its social media networks and YouTube.
Apple's 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is just a few days away, kicking off on Monday, June 10 with a keynote event at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple plans to introduce iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and HomePod Software 18. No hardware is expected this year, with the focus set to be on software.
We've rounded up all of the rumors about the software features that Apple will unveil at WWDC, but there will still be plenty of surprises given the scope of the updates.
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
All of Apple's software updates will include a wide range of new features powered by artificial intelligence, but we've heard the most about iOS 18. The AI additions in iOS 18 are expected to make this the biggest software refresh that we've had in years, with Apple set to call its AI features "Apple Intelligence."
All of Apple's AI additions will be introduced in a beta capacity so that Apple can test them before revealing them as full features, and everything will be opt-in, so people can decide not to use AI. Some features will be handled on-device, while some will be handled in the cloud, with Apple set to tout the security and privacy of the hardware that it's using for its cloud servers.
Siri and Spotlight
Apple is expected to use large language models (LLMs) to train Siri, which will theoretically result in major improvements to the personal assistant. LLMs are the backbone of popular AI offerings like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Rumors suggest that Siri will have a more casual, conversational feel, with a more natural voice. Siri will be able to do more than before, taking into account people, companies, calendar events, locations, and dates. Apple plans to give Siri control over individual features in apps, so Siri will be able to perform specific functions in apps that aren't possible today. Siri will, for example, be able to open specific documents, move files from one folder to another, delete an email, edit a photo, and summarize messages, notifications, and articles.
To enable these capabilities, Apple had to rearchitect Siri's underlying software. While Apple will likely show off these features at WWDC, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman does not believe the updated Siri experience will launch with the first version of iOS 18 in September. Instead, it will come in a future version of iOS 18 in 2025.
The Siri update will be accompanied by a refreshed version of Spotlight search on iPhones and iPads, with more intelligent results and improved sorting.
OpenAI Deal
Apple has inked a deal with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT technology into iOS 18, because Apple does not plan to build its own chatbot at this time. ChatGPT will be an opt-in feature for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 users.
Some Apple executives have had reservations about integrating a chatbot into the operating system, but Apple moved forward with it because customers may be expecting that kind of AI technology given its prevalence. OpenAI technology will also power some of the other AI features that Apple plans to introduce.
New App Features
Apple is bringing AI features to many of its built-in apps, and the additions that we've heard about so far are listed below. There are likely to be other AI features that haven't made it to the rumor mill.
Safari - Safari will get an "Intelligent Search" option that will use AI to identify key topics and phrases on a web page, offering a summary. Apple will refresh the quick access menu, adding some features currently in the Share Sheet, and there may also be a "Web Eraser" tool that lets users hide unwanted portions of webpages that persist across visits.
Mail - The Mail app will be able to suggest replies to incoming emails through a "Smart Replies" feature, plus it will have improved search and an option for summarizing long email threads. Mail will also be reorganized and will automatically sort incoming messages into categories, similar to Gmail.
Apple Maps - The Maps app could gain support for custom routes, allowing users to input self-selected routes rather than being limited to the options that Apple provides. Apple could also add support for topographic maps, a feature introduced last year in watchOS 10.
Photos - There will be an AI-based feature for removing unwanted objects from images.
Apple Music - Auto-generated playlists created by AI may be an option, and Apple will improve song transitions with an adjustable crossfade duration.
Notes - Notes will support recording voice memos directly in the app, with a transcript available. Mathematical notation will be improved so more kinds of equations can be added to notes, and the app will also provide AI-generated summaries of key points in notes and audio recordings.
Voice Memos - As with the Notes app, the Voice Memos app will be able to provide transcripts and summaries of content that is recorded.
Calendar - The Calendar app is expected to get Reminders integration, allowing reminders to be viewed directly in the Calendar app.
Calculator - Apple will bring the Calculator app to the iPad with iPadOS 18.
iWork - Apple's iWork apps will include new AI features. Keynote will have an option for automatically generating slides, and Pages will get a feature for generating text.
Shortcuts - Shortcuts will better integrate with Siri, allowing for the automation of complex tasks with less effort.
Health - The Health app will get improved blood pressure data management ahead of when Apple Watch models gain hypertension detection, along with more tailored data, such as improved cycle tracking if a person is pregnant. Apple also plans to add a new hearing test feature linked to the AirPods.
Settings - Apple plans to streamline the Settings app, adding a reorganized UI with a cleaner layout to make it easier to navigate. Search in the Settings app is also set to improve.
Home Screen and Control Center
iOS 18 isn't going to get a total design overhaul, but the Home Screen, Control Center, and some in-app elements will be refreshed.
Apple will introduce a more customizable Home Screen, with app icons that can be arranged in new ways. Apple plans to stick to an invisible grid, but blank spaces, rows, and columns will be able to be placed between app icons for organizational options not currently available.
Users will be able to change the colors of app icons in iOS 18, with icon color no longer restricted to the colors that developers choose.
Apple has tested a customizable Control Center layout for iOS 18, and if adopted, it will feature a drag-and-drop interface that lets some of the controls be reorganized. Apple is also planning to add a new Apple Music widget and improved controls for HomeKit products.
Apps overall could get a more visionOS-inspired design refresh, with more of a focus on translucency for buttons and other UI elements.
Passwords
iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 will include a standalone Passwords app that essentially offers all of the functionality that's currently available in the Passwords section of Settings, such as one-time passcodes and password generation.
The app includes logins and passwords for websites, Wi-Fi network passwords, and Passkeys, a feature that uses Face ID or Touch ID to log into websites instead of a password. Data from the app can be automatically inserted into websites and apps when a user logs in, and it uses iCloud Keychain to sync across devices.
Apple plans to allow customers to import passwords from third-party apps, and there will be a way to access passwords on the Vision Pro and on PCs.
Messages
Multiple useful AI features are rumored to be coming to the Messages app. AI will be used to offer better suggested replies for quicker responses to incoming texts, and Siri will be able to summarize longer messages for you.
An auto-generated emoji feature will let users generate emojis based on the content of a message. The emoji will be created using AI, and will be all-new rather than pulled from the existing emoji catalog.
For Tapbacks, aka the reactions you can add to incoming messages, Apple is adding colorful new icons and support for emoji for the first time. Users will be able to press on a message and reply with an emoji character.
iMessages will support new text effects, allowing individual words to be animated in a message rather than the entire message as is possible now, and there will be a feature for scheduling a text message to be sent later.
Along with these features, Messages is going to get a major under-the-hood overhaul that will improve communications with Android users. Apple is set to adopt Rich Communication Services (RCS) as a standard to replace the current SMS/MMS standard. iMessage will be the method of communication for iPhone to iPhone conversations, but RCS will make it so "green bubbles" don't ruin chats.
RCS supports higher resolution photos and videos, larger file sizes and file sharing, audio messages, cross-platform emoji reactions, real-time typing indicators, improved group chats, and read receipts. All of these features will be available in iPhone-to-Android text messaging threads.
With RCS, messages can be sent over cellular or Wi-Fi, and there is no cost to send an RCS message over Wi-Fi. That will be an improvement over SMS, which only works over cellular connections.
Notifications
With iOS 18, Apple plans to add smarter recaps that will summarize the notifications that you've missed while in a Focus mode. The feature will make it easier to catch up with and skip over notifications that are not useful.
Accessibility
Apple already announced several new accessibility features that are coming to iOS 18.
Vehicle Motion Cues is meant to cut down on motion sickness when looking at an iPhone in a moving vehicle as the passenger. The feature adds animated dots on the edge of the display that indicate real-time changes in motion, cutting down on the sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they feel, which can be an issue in a moving vehicle.
Eye Tracking lets users navigate the iPhone with only their eyes. It uses AI and the front-facing camera to determine where a user is looking, and it can be used to activate buttons, swipes, and other gestures.
Music Haptics will let the Taptic Engine play taps, textures, and refined vibrations that correspond to the audio of the music. It works across millions of songs in Apple Music.
Hearing Aid Mode
With iOS 18, the AirPods Pro 2 could gain a hearing aid mode. Apple can't market the AirPods Pro as offering hearing help for those who are hearing impaired, but the FDA does allow for over-the-counter hearing aids designed for non-hearing impaired customers.
Compatibility
iOS 18 is expected to run on all iPhones that are capable of running iOS 17. Some on-device AI features might be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and later, however.
macOS 15 will get many of the same AI features that are coming to iOS 18, given the feature parity that Apple introduces across its devices. The new additions in apps like Messages, Mail, Photos, Notes, Calendar, Calculator, and Apple Music will also be introduced on the Mac, and the Siri features will be in macOS 15 eventually as well.
We've heard a limited amount about Mac-specific features, but the Calculator is expected to get an overhaul inspired by the iPhone calculator app with rounded buttons and an enhanced unit conversion system, and System Settings will be reorganized in a way that puts the most used features at the top of the app.
Macs, iPhones, and iPads are all set to get new wallpaper packs, and on the Mac, the wallpapers will reference "old school icons and slogans," and Xcode will include an AI coding feature similar to GitHub's Copilot tool.
Apple is expected to pick another California landmark name for macOS 15. Of the names that Apple has trademarked over the past decade, those yet to be used include Redwood, Grizzly, Sequoia, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo, and Shasta.
More on what's coming in macOS 15 can be found in our macOS 15 roundup.
watchOS 11
The improvements that Apple plans to make to Siri on iPhone will also trickle down to the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is expected to get a version of Siri that is optimized for on-the-go tasks, resulting in a personal assistant that is able to do more from the wrist.
The Siri interface will "uniquely format responses depending on the type of query," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple also plans to introduce changes to some apps, such as Fitness.
tvOS 18
AI Siri features will be cross platform, so we can expect some new Siri functionality on the Apple TV eventually. We haven't heard specific rumors about any of the features that are coming to tvOS 18, and tvOS updates are often much more minor in scale than other operating system updates.
visionOS 2
visionOS 2 will introduce dedicated Vision Pro versions of Apple apps that did not make it into the first version of the software, such as Home, Apple News, Reminders, Voice Memos, and Calendars. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that Apple will also add other "missing features," without specific details.
Apple in May said that it will bring Live Captions to FaceTime in visionOS, plus it will add an option for moving captions in Apple Immersive Video experiences.
Apple will live stream the WWDC keynote event at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If you're curious what time that is in your local time zone, we have a dedicated guide.
The keynote will be available on YouTube, on Apple's website, in the Apple TV app, and in the Apple Developer app.
For those who are unable to watch or who would prefer to follow along with a text version of what's happening, we'll provide live coverage on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Apple TV enthusiast Sigmund Judge has modded an iPad Pro into a portable Apple TV. The project involved modifying an Apple TV for USB-C power, routing the Apple TV's HDMI signal onto the iPad with a USB video capture device, and more.
Judge even created a custom Magic Keyboard with a silver enclosure and black keys to match the design of the Apple TV's Siri Remote.
The modded device is called the Apple TV Go, and Judge published a story on MacStories today with complete details about the project for those interested in learning more about the complex steps that were involved in building it.
Amazon had one of the week's best Apple deals, with $100 off a huge collection of Apple Watch Series 9 models. While some of these have since expired, there are still plenty of aluminum and stainless steel models on sale at this steep discount, and you'll also find discounts on AirPods, MacBook Air, and the Apple Studio Display.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Watch Series 9
What's the deal? Get $100 off Apple Watch Series 9
It's been a while since we last tracked a sale on Apple Watch Series 9 models, but this week Amazon returned with a massive collection of the wearables at $100 off. This includes both GPS and cellular models, in aluminum and stainless steel variants.
While some of the models we shared earlier in the week have now gone out of stock, many are still available. You can find the full list in our original post.
Amazon kicked off the week with a new all-time low price on the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air from 2022, providing $170 off both the 256GB and 512GB models. You can still get these computers in all four colorways this weekend.
The notable AirPods discount this week is on the AirPods 3 with the Lightning Charging Case, priced at $139.99 on Amazon, down from $169.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on this model.
The Apple Studio Display returned to its record low price of $1,299.99 on Amazon this week, down from $1,599.00. This is the Standard Glass model with a tilt-adjustable stand, but you can also find the VESA mount adapter model at the same price on Amazon.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
