There are no announced Apple products expected to ship in January, and no rumors we expect to hear about – with one possible exception (and it’s an important one): Apple said Vision Pro would launch “early” this year, and at least one report says Apple aims to launch the next-generation headset by the end of January.
Beyond hardware, we’re waiting for a few software releases. There’s iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3 (and their siblings), which began beta testing in December. We can also expect new Apple TV+ shows and Apple Arcade games. Here’s a summary of what we might see this month. If we don’t get Apple Vision Pro, it’s going to be a very slow month.
New hardware: Apple Vision Pro?
Recent reports indicate that Apple’s next big thing, its first foray into “spatial computing” with an AR/VR headset, could launch in late January. Reports claim that Apple Vision Pro has entered mass production and will soon begin shipping to distribution centers, which would indicate a late January or early February launch.
Previous reports also claimed that the headset would arrive early this year. During its WWDC introduction, Apple gave a release window of “early next year,” which usually means around March, but there have been exceptions and entirely new product categories often debut according to their own schedule.
At $3,500, plus the cost of lens inserts for those who need them, Vision Pro should be a very low-volume business. We don’t expect large shipments and millions of units sold in 2024. But this is the first product in a completely new category that Apple is taking very seriously. We can’t wait to see the finished product.
Applications and software updates
With a new wave of OS updates entering beta in mid-December, it seems certain that we’ll get a final release in January. This will likely be followed almost immediately by beta versions of upcoming iOS/iPadOS/macOS/tvOS updates.
iOS 17.3: This release adds collaborative playlists to Apple Music (after a few previous betas teasing the feature), but the big deal is probably the new Stolen Device Protection feature that makes it harder for a thief to access your personal data , even if it has your password. .
iPadOS 17.3: Expect the same updates as in iOS 17.3.
tvOS 17.3: We are not yet aware of any significant new features in tvOS 17.3. Apple Music is available on tvOS, but we don’t know if collaborative playlists can be managed on the device.
macOS Sonoma 14.3: We haven’t noticed any significant features in version 14.3 (apart from the usual bug fixes and security items), except for collaborative playlists in Apple Music.
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we plan to release on Apple TV+ in January. He’s looking pretty thin this month. If you want to know what’s coming next, check out our complete guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Criminal record: An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case: one a young woman at the start of her career, the other a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. January 10
Killers of the Flower Moon: Scorsese’s film based on the book Killers Of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI was released in theaters in October and is finally coming to the streaming service. January 12
Airbenders: Follows the men of the 100th Bombardment Group (the “Bloody Hundred”) as they carry out perilous bombing raids on Nazi Germany and struggle against freezing conditions, lack of oxygen and the sheer terror of fighting with 25,000 feet of altitude. January 26
AppleArcade
Apple releases new games to Apple Arcade on Fridays, but not every Friday sees a new game or major update. Visit our Apple Arcade FAQ for a complete list of Apple Arcade games and more details about the service. Some games release without prior warning, but you’ll often see multiple projects listed in the Coming Soon section.
Blackjack by MobilityWare+: It’s blackjack! January 4
Corn sweeper: Similar to classic Minesweeper, but popcorn themed. January 4
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom: A 3D adventure featuring virtual Tamagotchi animals. January 4
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