Apple’s big WWDC 2020 conference is set to start today (Monday, June 22) and we’re expecting to hear lots about new software at the show including iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16 and watchOS 7.
To give it its full name, the conference is Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference and for 2020 the event will be online-only owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. You’ll be able to watch the keynote live for free, as in previous years.
WWDC is primarily a software based show, but it’s possible that we’ll see new hardware at the event too. There may be new Mac hardware, plus we’re expecting to hear more about the long rumored Apple AirTags as well.
Apple has already introduced us to the iPhone SE 2020, new iPad Pro and even the new MacBook Pro this year, so our current bet is that we won’t see a huge amount of hardware surprises.
Below we’ve put together all of the details you need to know about the event including the start time, key dates and what we’re expecting to hear about later on today. Plus, we’ve got our WWDC 2020 live blog up and running so you can follow along with the event as it happens.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Apple’s next big launch event
- When is it? It starts today and runs until June 26
- How much will it cost to watch? It’s free
When is the WWDC 2020 keynote?
Apple’s big WWDC 2020 event is set to start later today (June 22) with the keynote set to begin at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST or 3AM AEST on June 23.
This main keynote is set to be the highlight of the event, and then there’s an entire week for developers to dig into the details of the new operating systems further.
That further event runs until June 26, and if you’re a developer you can tune in to a variety of sessions for free. Previously, you’ve had to pay $1,599 (around £1,284 / AU$2477) per ticket but as it’s an online-only event WWDC is free in 2020.
Remember this is online-only though, and you’ll need specific credentials to join in away from the main keynote.
They’ll be able to access the event through the Apple Developer Program app – developers who want to tune in can start there or use the program’s website. If you’re just looking to tune into the main keynote, that’ll be easy to watch and you won’t need a developer account.
All the WWDC 2020 leaks and rumors
As WWDC is focused on software, the most likely announcements are all software related, but there’s a significant amount of hardware that is rumored and could make an appearance too.
That said, one prolific Twitter leaker has suggested that Apple may have cancelled its big hardware announcements that were set to be unveiled today.
It’s not clear if that is true, and we won’t know until the show is over.
That said, we’ve put together a bit on each of the updates and products we’re expecting to see at the event. Bear in mind all of this is based on rumors and leaks, so there’s no gurantee we’ll see all of this unveiled.
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14
This is what iOS 13 looks like on iPhone
While we’re not certain that all the things below will make an appearance at WWDC 2020, iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 seem like safe bets, since Apple has a long history of announcing new mobile software at the event.
That said, this isn’t when the finished versions of the software will land on phones and tablets. Rather, Apple will likely announce many of the key features and changes, and release an early developer build.
This, while aimed at developers, will likely be accessible to users willing to jump through a few hoops, though a public beta will probably follow soon after anyway, with the finished software likely launching in late September alongside the iPhone 12.
New features coming in iOS 14 include a dedicated fitness app, a variety of new messaging features and performance improvements.
There haven’t been many leaks of features this year, so we’re quietly hoping for some big surprises on June 22. Plus, one bold rumor has even suggested it may be renamed iPhone OS to better reflect the fact it’s now only available on your phone.
watchOS 7
watchOS 6 on the Apple Watch 5
We’re also very likely to get our first official look at watchOS 7 during WWDC 2020, though as with iOS 14 it probably won’t be finished and launched before late September, where it might land alongside the Apple Watch 6.
Rumors are few and far between for watchOS 7, but some leaks suggest we’ll be getting improved sleep tracking features for your Apple Watch with a compatible app that sits on your iPhone too.
There may also be new features for children to have their own Apple Watch device (think parental controls, and more) as well as blood pressure monitoring.
macOS 10.16
macOS Catalina on a MacBook
It’s not just mobile software that we’ll likely get a look at during WWDC, the next version of macOS is also likely to be unveiled.
We don’t know all that much about macOS 10.16 yet, but going by previous releases it – like the other software on show – will probably get revealed at WWDC 2020 but not fully launch until at least September.
Current rumors point toward a built-in translator app to the Safari application and there may be improvements to iCloud Keychain and the Messages app. These seem to be similar to the iOS 14 leaks, but instead this is for your Mac.
New Mac hardware
We’ve mentioned that new Mac software is likely to be announced at WWDC. Well, new Mac hardware is as well. At WWDC 2019 we got the Mac Pro. At WWDC 2020 we could potentially see a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or refreshed versions of any of Apple’s other desktop or laptop hardware.
In fact, one big rumor suggests a new Apple iMac with an AMD Navi GPU is set to debut at the show.
Perhaps the biggest rumor of all is a source saying Apple may use WWDC to announce its plans to ditch Intel processors for its future Macs. That’d be a big step for Apple, and this information comes from people directly familiar with the matter.
That’s unlikely to impact any products introduced in 2020, but it’s be a major change for next year’s Mac range.
New Apple AirPods
A mockup of the AirPods Studio by EverythingApplePro.
Rumors of not one, not two, but three new Apple AirPod models have been circling for a while now – and any one of them could feasibly launch at WWDC 2020.
We think the pair most likely to surface are the so-called Apple AirPods Studio, which are said to be the first-ever Apple over-ear headphones.
We’ve also heard murmurs of the AirPods Pro Lite , which will apparently be an entry-level version of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, while the AirPods 3 are the anticipated follow-up to the original AirPods – which saw their last upgrade in 2019.
Apple HomePod 2
The original Apple HomePod
Apple is likely working on a new HomePod, with some reports suggesting that it could be a more compact one, possibly launching as the HomePod Mini.
But whether the HomePod Mini or HomePod 2, there’s a good chance a new model will land in 2020, and WWDC 2020 is a likely venue for the announcement, especially as the original HomePod was announced at a WWDC (though it didn’t hit stores until a long time later).
Apple AirTags
The Tile Pro may have competition from AirTags
Apple AirTags are a long rumored product that would be seen as a rival to Tile. If you don’t know what Tile products are, they essentially tag your belongings (think your keys or your purse) and allow you to track their location.
One report in May even suggested that Apple AirTags will be announced at WWDC 2020, so it may be finally time to see the location tracking software and hardware unveiled.
We’ve seen some leaks suggest iOS 14 may be getting its very own AirTags app, so it’d make sense for Apple to introduce these at WWDC 2020 rather than later in the year.
Apple TV and tvOS 14
Mention of a new Apple TV 4K model was recently found in tvOS software, so a new Apple TV could be on the way, and it’s possible it will land at WWDC.
Whether or not new hardware does though, there’s also a high chance that new software will, in the form of tvOS 14, especially given that tvOS 13 was shown off at WWDC 2019, followed by a launch in September.
Apple AirPower
What AirPower looked like in 2017
This is possibly the entry we’re least confident about on this list, but there have been rumors in the lead up to WWDC that suggest we may see the return of Apple’s AirPower charging mat.
Despite just being a wireless charger, Apple has struggled with the development of this product since it was first unveiled in 2017 alongside the iPhone X. Many reported it had been cancelled, but some recent information suggests that isn’t the case.
A variety of new leaks about AirPower have surfaced, and it may be that these have reared their heads because it’ll land at WWDC. We’ll have to wait for June 22 to know for certain.
- Later in the year, we’re expecting the iPhone 12
What will happen later today? TechRadar’s Manager Editor Matt Swider has been covering Apple events – including WWDC – for years, and below are his predictions on what he expects to see later today.
How we predict WWDC 2020 will go
10:00am PST (local time): Apple’s WWDC keynote always starts with an opening video, and it usually lasts between two and four minutes. I did the calculation, and that’s an average of… three minutes. The videos are often funny (WWDC 2015 spoofed the movie Birdman pretty hard) and also pro-developer (WWDC 2018 satirized nature documentaries with ‘The Developer Migration’).
The events of the first half of 2020 demand something different.
The events of the first half of 2020 demand something different: a WWDC opening video that allows Apple to address and encourage diversity among the developer community and its own ranks; what it’s done so far, and what it still needs to do.
10:03am PST: This will be the first time that Cook will be able to talk about Apple’s support of Black Lives Matter from a grand stage. He’ll also be able to address what the company has done in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as supplying N95 masks and designing face shields for frontline healthcare workers.
10:06am PST: Apple loves diving into WWDC with big numbers early on. That usually means reminding everyone of its vast developer count, tallying the apps available in the App Store, and boasting about how many people have iOS 13 installed over the latest version of Google’s Android operating system.
Apple has increasingly been under fire for its 30% revenue cut from App Store app purchases and in-app transactions, as well as its ability to block apps for violating vague rules. Cook could either strongly defend Apple’s case for creating the App Store environment, or give in a little to appease antitrust investigations. I don’t see the latter happening.
10:10am PT: Apple’s conference announcements may start by giving subscribers a break via a previously rumored bundle, first uncovered by Bloomberg.
Apple has been bullish on its services, which have helped make up for sliding iPhone sales. This new source of profit will have even more appeal if the company bundles Apple News Plus, Apple Music and Apple TV Plus into one flat rate. I’d also like to see iCloud storage prices fall, but I want that every year and never get that wish.
10:15am PT: Right at the fifteen-minute mark, Apple may get into what we’re all here for: the first glimpse at software upgrades for our existing devices. And the updates typically launch in developer beta form following the WWDC keynote.
The rundown order in which they’re unveiled is always different, but Apple’s all-hands software push is predictable, so expect to see iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, tvOS 14, watchOS 7, and macOS 10.16.
10:16am PT: iOS 14 could start things off – kind of. There’s a rumor that the name will be changed to iPhoneOS 14. Expect Craig Federighi to helm this announcement.
Fun fact: Apple’s mobile operating system was ‘iPhoneOS’ for its first three iterations until it didn’t make sense when the iPad arrived using the same software. With last year’s iPadOS 13 fork in Apple’s iOS scheme, Apple’s pivot back to iPhoneOS makes sense for everyone – except the always-forgotten iPod touch users out there.
iOS 14 leaks point to new home screen app widgets, an iPad-like app switcher for the iPhone interface, overdue Podcast app enhancements, a built-in translation tool, and a ‘Clips’ feature that lets you try snippets of apps without downloading them in full. I’m also keen to see if Apple upgrades all iOS 13-compatible devices to iOS 14.
10:40am PT: iOS demos – if iOS 14 is indeed first up – take up a significant chunk of time. watchOS 7 could be next, and the predictions there are even easier to make. Apple VP of tech Kevin Lynch will likely take the stage at this point.
Apple’s watchOS 7 update is due sleep tracking, something rumored for watchOS 6 last year but reportedly didn’t make the cut alongside the standalone watch-based App Store. The company’s hesitation may have to do with battery life concerns for people wearing the watch 24/7. Expect watchOS 7 to tout battery saving perks for this reason, along with the usual slate of new Apple Watch faces.
11:00am PT: Apple TV Plus and tvOS 14 go hand-in-hand. Apple has to convince the current subscribers of Apple TV Plus to re-up in November (most are probably on that free year-long trial care of buying a new Apple device). To make that happen, it needs to produce new content – or at least buy fresh video content. The pandemic has forced Apple to pause production on shows such as The Morning Show season 2.
We could see a new Apple TV 4K at this point or, at the very least a new Apple TV remote.
macOS 10.16, new iMac and ARM-based Mac roadmap
11:20am PT: Surprisingly, this year’s Mac rumors have nothing to do with Apple’s next computer software update, macOS 10.16. There have been very few operating system leaks so far. Instead, I’m expecting Apple to make big news with its plans to switch from Intel chips to custom ARM-based Mac chips.
That’s not to say ARM-based Macs will be out this month or even this year. This is more of a 2021 thing, according to analysts. But making this bold (some would say ‘brave’) announcement at WWDC 2020 will give developers enough time to prepare for the inevitable switch (like Steve Jobs did when Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel chips at WWDC 2005).
Intel will still show up in existing Mac upgrades until that happens. Look for the iMac 2020 27-inch to show up at WWDC, with stock now dwindling for the last iteration at that 27-inch size.
While I’m unsure if the 23-inch version will get the same upgrade, I do expect an overdue redesign that hopefully looks closer to the Pro Display XDR used by the Mac Pro 2019.
One more thing?
11:40am PT: Apple WWDC usually lasts two hours, and at the end we could see Tim Cook return to the stage for a ‘one more thing’ surprise announcement. Really, it’s what the world needs right now.
Apple AirTags could be that surprise you didn’t know you needed, especially if you haven’t tried the similar Tile tracker. It’s incredibly handy in a pinch. Clipping a small circular tag to your keys, bike or suitcase could help you track down the location of a lost item using your iPhone or asking Siri “Where’s my suitcase?”.
Apple AirTags sound neat enough to take up the last twenty minutes of demo time and a great way to end WWDC 2020 if they use Augmented Reality (AR) to help you track down your lost keys in between two couch cushions.
- Long-shot predictions: Apple HomePod 2020, AirPods Pro Lite and AirPods Studio