Whereas there’s by no means any doubt that Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) Keynotes will probably be stuffed with software program bulletins every year, it’s at all times a little bit of a wildcard whether or not the corporate may even use the chance to unveil new {hardware} merchandise.
In some years, the corporate has wowed us with revolutionary new merchandise, just like the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional in 2023. Different WWDC keynotes have additionally featured new product classes, equivalent to the primary HomePod in 2017.
WWDC Keynotes additionally performed a big function within the first 4 generations of the iPhone. Whereas Steve Jobs launched the unique iPhone at Macworld 2007 in January, WWDC 2007 ramped issues as much as one other degree, providing new insights into Apple’s first smartphone because it wouldn’t hit cabinets for one more 2–3 weeks. Following that, the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4 have been all introduced throughout June WWDC Keynotes earlier than Apple shifted to fall iPhone occasions in 2011.
As a developer’s convention, WWDC can be the place Apple has at all times unveiled new Mac Professional fashions; though there have solely been 4 of these, they have been every introduced at WWDC keynotes: the unique Mac Professional in 2006, the “garbage can” Mac Professional in 2013, the return of the unique type Mac Professional in 2019, and the primary Apple Silicon Mac Professional in 2023.
Some WWDC Keynotes additionally usher in additional pedestrian {hardware} updates. New MacBooks have been featured in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2022, and 2023. We additionally noticed the introduction of the ten.5-inch iPad Professional at WWDC 2017 — the one time the occasion has ever featured an iPad in any type. 2013 additionally noticed the debut of latest AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Excessive fashions, from these halcyon days when Apple was nonetheless within the router enterprise.
Nevertheless, regardless of all of the WWDC keynotes which have featured new {hardware} merchandise, excess of have been strictly concerning the software program, particularly over the previous decade or so. WWDC Keynotes in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024 supplied no tangible {hardware} merchandise, though some included hardware-adjacent bulletins, such because the debut of Apple Silicon at WWDC 2020. Nevertheless, whereas this culminated within the M1 MacBook lineup later that 12 months, we didn’t even know what the chips have been going to be referred to as till Apple held its fall Mac occasion.
Final 12 months’s WWDC keynote was equally devoid of {hardware} bulletins. Apple had cleared the decks within the weeks main as much as WWDC24 by releasing the brand new M4 iPad Professional and M2 iPad Air fashions lower than a month earlier, maybe partly to offer it extra time to showcase Apple Intelligence, which took up over a 3rd of the keynote.
Whereas Apple is anticipated to spend far much less time speaking about AI options this 12 months, it’s equally launched a lot of the {hardware} we’d anticipate to see for 2025. Even this 12 months’s Mac Studio, which was final refreshed with an M2 Extremely chip at WWDC23, was launched in March, alongside a brand new M3 iPad Air, A16-powered iPad, and M4 MacBook Air lineup. The iPhone and Apple Watch are historically September releases, and the MacBook Professional has additionally fallen into an October cycle. AirPods have additionally lengthy been on a fall schedule.
The Mac Professional is arguably overdue for an Apple silicon replace, and with the Mac Studio solely getting an M3 Extremely chip, some consider Apple is saving the M4 Extremely for a Mac Professional announcement this week. Nevertheless, it additionally appears to be like seemingly that Apple will skip the M4 Extremely. Apple may nonetheless unveil a extra modestly up to date Mac Professional with specs just like the Mac Studio to carry it as much as the newest era of Apple Silicon. Nonetheless, we’ve heard little or no a couple of new Mac Professional from the rumor mill.
A couple of months in the past, there was one machine that many believed we’d see at WWDC25: An Apple Good Residence Hub to accompany a rumored new homeOS working system. Nevertheless, experiences in March instructed that the brand new machine depends closely on Apple’s Siri enhancements, which Apple has been scuffling with. Most dependable experiences now say that it gained’t be prepared till 2026.
It’s nonetheless potential Apple would possibly announce the Residence Hub at WWDC, very similar to it did with the HomePod in 2017. Nevertheless, whereas that didn’t go on sale till February 2018, it was initially Apple’s intention to have its first good speaker in buyer’s arms a lot sooner. If the Residence Hub is really farther off — and if Siri is the explanation for its delay — Apple may be a bit gun-shy about pre-announcing it till it is aware of it may well ship it on time, particularly after its failed promise of a extra customized Siri in iOS 18.
However, whereas the chance of latest {hardware} is slim, it’s at all times finest to go away a little bit room for Apple to shock us with “yet one more factor.” Smaller updates can simply fly beneath leakers’ radars, and we’ve usually seen new updates come out of the blue, particularly once they’re comparatively minor refreshes to current type elements just like the HomePod or Apple TV.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]