Apple’s big showcase at WWDC is on June 5th, which means we can probably expect May to be a pretty slow month for Apple releases. Why reveal any major new hardware or software when you have a much better opportunity in just a few weeks?
We expected a new 15-inch MacBook Air and possibly some other new hardware in the spring, but now we think that Apple will almost certainly wait until WWDC to release any of these products. The big star of WWDC is said to be the Mixed Reality headset (perhaps called Reality Pro), but there could be a few updates for the Mac, along with all the new iOS, iPadOS, and macOS announcements.
You can expect iOS 16.5, macOS 13.4, and other related OS updates to be released in May, but they’re pretty minor. There will be a few Apple TV+ releases and Apple Arcade games, but nothing to make headlines. In fact, the conclusion of the third season of Ted Lasso – perhaps the end of the entire series – could be the most notable event in Appleland this May.
Rumored new equipment
With WWDC just around the corner, rumor has it that several new products are on the way. But will we see any of them in May?
15″ MacBook Air: For months now, we’ve been telling you about rumors that the 15-inch MacBook Air will arrive in the spring. Now that WWDC is so close, it seems foolhardy for Apple to just put it on the website just a few weeks before Tim Cook takes the stage. We are now expecting a 15-inch Air in June.
Mac Pro: No, the Apple Silicon Mac Pro will not arrive in May. Wait for WWDC (and we’re not even sure about that).
Mac Studio: Again, WWDC is when that happens if it gets the M2 update. Rumor has it that all of this has been delayed until the M3 processor generation.
Reality Pro Headset: While Apple won’t even acknowledge the existence of its AR headset until WWDC in June, May will be an interesting time to keep an eye on the news about it. It’s Apple’s biggest product in over a decade, and rumors will really start to spread ahead of its launch. We might even get a reliable leak showing what it looks like.
Applications and software updates
Major software updates will be unveiled at WWDC alongside the release of iOS 17, macOS 14, and watchOS 10. Developer betas will begin immediately, with public betas likely to follow in a few weeks.
As Apple wraps up development on iOS 16 and macOS 13, the updates are pretty minor. We’ll get what could be the last update for iOS 16 or macOS 13, aside from security releases and bug fixes, in May. And they are not very exciting.
iOS 16.5: This release adds nothing more than a Sports tab to Apple News and some Siri functionality and screen recording shortcuts, as well as the usual bug fixes and security improvements.
TVOS 16.5: As per the release of iOS, you won’t notice many new things on your Apple TV with this one.
iPadOS 16.5: The same features as in iOS 16.5 are available on your iPad.
macOS 13.4: Bug fixes and security updates, and macOS is getting the simplified beta installation process that came to iOS and iPadOS in version 16.4.
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in TK. If you want to know what’s coming next, check out our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Silage: Set in a shattered and toxic future, the community exists in a gigantic underground bunker, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of rules that they think are meant to protect them. Based on the Hugh Howey trilogy. 5 May
Spy Harriet season 2: Candid and always curious. In short, this is 11-year-old Harriet. But if she’s going to be Harriet M. Welsh, a future writer, she needs to know everything. And in order to know everything, she would have to spy on … everyone. 5 May
Still Life: A Film by Michael J Fox: A documentary about the life of beloved actor and activist Michael J. Fox. It will include documentary, archival and script elements. 12 May
City on fire: Samantha Cicciaró is an NYU student who was gunned down in Central Park on July 4, 2003. As the crime is investigated, it is revealed that she is the crucial link between a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and an affluent residential area. a family of real estate agents is wearing out due to the many secrets they keep. 12 May
High Desert: An eight-episode half-hour black comedy about a former drug addict from Yucca Valley, California who, after the death of her mother, starts a new life by becoming a private investigator. May 17
Prehistoric Planet Season 2: State-of-the-art special effects and the latest discoveries in paleontology bring dinosaurs to life like never before. 22nd of May
Platonic: A 10-episode 30-minute comedy about a pair of best friends who reunite after a long breakup. May 24
apple arcade
Apple releases new games for Apple Arcade on Fridays, but not every Friday brings a new game or major update. Check out the Apple Arcade FAQ for a complete list of Apple Arcade games and more information about the service. Some games are released without warning, but you will often see multiple titles listed in the Coming Soon section.