What to Expect at WWDC 2022: iOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9 and Possibly New Macs

On Jun 4, 2022

Apple’s 33rd annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to kick off on Monday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. Like the 2020 and 2021 events, it will be held in a digital-only capacity, so it is free for all developers worldwide to attend.

The keynote event will give us our first look at new operating system updates, including iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9, plus rumors suggest we could see some new hardware. Everything we’ve heard about this year’s event is outlined below.

iOS 16

Most of the rumors about ‌iOS 16‌ have been vague, so we know little about the operating system update at this time. In years past, new versions of iOS have leaked out early and have given us insight into the feature set that’s coming, but that didn’t happen this year.

That said, we have heard some rumors about what to expect, with much of the information sourced from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, who has reliable sources with information on Apple’s plans.

Rumored New Features

Overhauled Lock screen with wallpapers that have “widget-like capabilities.”
There will be “significant” improvements to notifications, though we don’t know specific details.
Messages app with “social network-like functionality” with a specific focus on audio messages.
Health app with expanded sleep tracking functionality and medicine management. Apple is working on a tool that will let users scan their pill bottles into the app, plus there are new women’s health features expected.
Fresh Apple apps are in the works, with no more specific information.
Apple is also working on “new ways of system interaction,” but it’s not quite clear what that means.
New Fitness+ workout types.
Apple Music classical app with interface based on Primephonic, an app Apple acquired in 2021.

Possible Features Based on iPhone 14 Rumors

Always-on display for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max (not coming until September).
Likely revamped status bar interface for ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ and Pro Max to accommodate hole punch and pill design that is expected to replace the notch on those devices.
The iPhone 14 models are expected to get a car crash detection feature, which would dial emergency services automatically when a collision is detected. This would require new ‌iOS 16‌ functionality.
Apple may also add a satellite-based emergency feature to the ‌iPhone 14‌ models, which would be supported in ‌iOS 16‌. This feature would let iPhones send texts in emergency situations when there is no cellular coverage, and report major emergencies when coverage is not available.
‌iOS 16‌ could include support for the buy now, pay later feature for Apple Pay that Apple is developing.
Similarly, it could introduce support for the hardware subscription program that will let customers pay a monthly fee for an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

For more on what we’re expecting in ‌iOS 16‌, we have a dedicated iOS 16 roundup.

iPadOS 16

iPadOS 16 will get many of the new features that are introduced in ‌iOS 16‌, but Apple is also working on additional functionality that’s ‌iPad‌ specific.

With iPadOS 16, Apple is aiming to make the ‌iPad‌ behave more like a laptop than a smartphone, and the new ‌iPad‌ software will be one of the biggest updates announced at WWDC.

The update will feature a redesigned multitasking interface that makes it easier to swap between tasks and see which apps are open, plus it will allow users to resize windows. Apple also plans to implement new ways for users to deal with multiple apps at once, in what sounds like a much more Mac-like multitasking experience.

macOS 13

We don’t know much about the feature set coming to ‌macOS 13‌, as there have been few leaks. It is rumored to feature an overhauled System Preferences interface that will bring it more in line with the Settings app on ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌, with the update to include individual settings organized by app.

Apple is also expected to revamp some of the default apps, so we could see improvements to Messages, Mail, Safari, and more. Messages in particular is rumored to be getting social network-like functionality with enhancements to audio messages. That’s an ‌iOS 16‌ rumor, but Messages usually has feature parity across platforms.

As for naming, ‌macOS 13‌ could be macOS Mammoth, based on Apple trademark filings. Apple way back in 2013 registered trademarks for many California landmarks and Mammoth is the one that’s been kept active the longest, though its status is unknown at this time and Apple has in the past chosen some names that were never on that list, so the naming isn’t certain.

watchOS 9

watchOS 9 will have some updates that impact the day-to-day operation and navigation on the wrist-worn device.

Updated power saving mode that will allow for the use of apps and features while cutting down on battery usage.
Expanded atrial fibrillation detection feature with added “burden,” aka how often a…