WWDC 2021: iOS 15, macOS 12 and more to look forward to

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is coming. This year's big event will begin on June 7th. WWDC 2021 will be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the company is still expected to unveil new versions of the operating system for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. It is also possible that the tech giant will announce new hardware. What Apple has planned for this year's opening keynote is a mystery, but we can make some guesses based on fact.

WWDC 2021: iOS 15, macOS 12 and more to look forward to Picture 1

Here's everything you need to know about Apple's WWDC 2021.

WWDC 2021: Software

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15

It's not hard to guess when Apple will announce iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 - the company's most important software platform that powers iPhone and iPad. Details are still scarce, but we can expect iOS 15 to focus on performance and stability. Many technology followers believe that Apple will allow users to set up different notification options.

For example, if you receive an alert at night, the sound may be muted if you are asleep. Rumor has it that Apple might change iMessage. Of course, there will be a greater focus on privacy. It's also possible that Apple will introduce a new Home Screen for the iPad. The other big change is new accessibility features coming to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

macOS 12 and WatchOS 8

So far, there have been no leaks surrounding the next version of macOS. Last year, the new Big Sur version of the Mac operating system introduced major changes, which included a complete redesign. Therefore, macOS 12 may bring minor updates to Apple's desktop operating system. Meanwhile, watchOS 8 is said to focus on health and fitness. One feature we expect Apple to add to watchOS 8 is the Notes app. What exactly watchOS 8 will look like, however, remains unclear.

WWDC 2021: Hardware

Since this is a developer conference, hardware is not a priority. However, Apple will likely announce the hardware during the conference. In the past time, rumors about the appearance of 14 and 16-inch Macbook Pro versions have 'floated like alcohol'.

Both high-end MacBook Pro models will revamp the design, introducing a flat bezel design. The new MacBook Pro is expected to come with physical function keys instead of a Touch Bar and more ports including an SD card slot.

According to another source, the new professional-grade machines will charge overMagSafe. Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro models will be equipped with the M1X chip.

Apple is also developing a brand new MacBook Air, but it's unlikely to launch before the end of the year. We also know that Apple is also working on a computer half the size of the Mac Pro (its design seems to be inspired by the Power Mac G4 Cube) with an Apple Silicon chip inside.

The AirPods 3 are another logical candidate for the big event. The leak suggests that the third-generation model will share some features with the pricier AirPods Pro.

Kareem Winters

Update 26 May 2021