14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is so committed to delivering a revolutionary AR/VR experience this year that the company has turned most of its other products into second-class citizens for 2023.
As a result, devices like the iPad, the Apple TV, the Apple Watch, and the AirPods are expected to get only subtle refinements this year, as the Cupertino-based tech giant is all about its AR/VR strategy.
The company’s headset is expected to go live this year, most likely in the spring, and most efforts are directed towards the software and hardware sides of the project.
That’s why Apple watcher Mark Gurman says in his latest newsletter that seeing Apple release major upgrades for its devices (aside from the iPhone) is something rather unlikely.
Unfortunately, this means that a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra wouldn’t go live this year. Launched in the fall of 2022 as the greatest Apple Watch ever, the Ultra is an almighty device that totally deserves a refresh this year, especially because it has already managed to eat up a substantial share of the market typically dominated by Garmin.
However, there’s a chance Apple will just stick with a subtle spec refresh this year, though little information is available in this regard at the moment. Most likely, the refreshed model will come with minor updates like a bigger battery and possibly a new chip, though it remains to be seen how Apple manages to keep Ultra fresh for customers out there.
In the meantime, the iPhone looks set to get more love, as Apple is believed to be planning several important upgrades, including a titanium body and a USB-C port. The days of Lightning could therefore be numbered, with Apple to then go all-in on the USB-C connector that so many authorities, including the EU, are currently pushing for.