Apple fans looking forward to new Macs or iPads at WWDC 2024 should prepare for disappointment. Despite Cupertino’s small number of releases so far this year and long list of products awaiting an update, one respected analyst predicted that the event won’t see any hardware announcements.
The prediction comes from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. Gurman told subscribers (via MacRumors) that “no hardware should be announced at WWDC unless Apple unexpectedly previews a new device launching later (to be clear: I don’t expect to that).”
To be clear, the idea of Apple holding a hardware-free WWDC isn’t in itself a huge surprise; Of the last 10 WWDCs, precisely half have focused solely on software. Rather, it’s that Apple’s 2024 has been light in terms of product announcements so far: only the two new iPads (Air and Pro) in May, and the M3 MacBook Air in March. We’re still expecting updates this year for the Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iMac or iMac Pro, iPad and iPad mini, AirPods, HomePod (possibly with display), and Apple TV – and that’s leaving out the iPhone and Apple Watch updates planned for fall.
There had been hopes, particularly among Gurman’s newsletter followers, that a new Apple TV would be announced this month: he had previously said that Apple hoped to refresh the Apple TV in the first half of 2024. But the same author now claims that a launch “is not imminent.” It also doesn’t appear that Apple has any immediate plans to release new models of the iPad or the standard iPad mini, both of which are in dire need of an update.
However, the most likely hardware launch for WWDC 2024 is a new Mac. The event is nominally focused on software updates, but Apple will frequently take the opportunity to announce a new desktop or laptop, with high-end professional models being of particular interest. At WWDC 2023, the company announced the M2 Max/Ultra Mac Studio and M2 Ultra Mac Pro, as well as the 15-inch MacBook Air. (Not to mention Vision Pro.) The summer before, we bought both Macs based on the new M2 chip, along with a redesigned MacBook Air and a new 13-inch MacBook Pro. Of those 10 WWDCs, the other half all featured Mac announcements of one type or another.
Still, even without hardware news, this month’s WWDC is shaping up to be a big one. Indeed, it’s possible that Apple will hold back product launches so that viewers can really focus on its first steps into the world of AI, with Project Greymatter bringing new features to iOS and macOS, and the AI making its grand entrance into the Apple ecosystem. For all the latest news and rumors, check out our regularly updated WWDC superguide.
