Apple WWDC announcements hot take

The week kicked off with Apple’s WWDC event that brought both software and hardware-related updates. There were updates announced for iOS, MacOS, WatchOS and iPadOS. Apple also announced two MacBooks with the M2 chips, but one of the laptops is recycled hardware. The MacBook Air gets refreshed hardware, and it looks spectacular, so let's start with that.

M2 MacBook Air gets my vote

Apple has unveiled the successor to the industry-changing M1 chip. The M2 sees beefed up CPU and graphics performance on the next-generation 5nm tech. The CPU improvement is about 18%, while graphics are 35% more powerful graphics, and neither is likely to make someone with an M1-powered laptop to make the upgrade.

What might actually be more tempting is the fact that the MacBook Air gets fourth-generation hardware. The beloved wedge design is gone and replaced with a flat unibody look. It looks more like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, though way thinner at 11.3mm (MacBook Pro 14 is 15.5mm). It has an updated Liquid Retina display with the same notch as the other MacBooks containing the 1080p Facetime camera.

This new 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 is a very strong entry-level offering for Apple’s notebook lineup. The return of MagSafe for the MacBook Air is also a welcome change for a laptop that still only comes with 2 USB-C ports and a headphone jack.

13-inch MacBook Pro - new chip, same hardware

Although the MacBook Air got some love this WWDC, the 13-inch MacBook Pro did too, kind of. The 13-inch MacBook Pro that launched in 2020 is now outfitted with the M2 chip, but that’s the only update it gets. We are still wondering why the 13-inch MacBook Pro even exists when the new Air just became a far more compelling option.

13-inch MacBook Pro keeps Touch Bar and previous-gen Retina

It isn’t even a true “Pro” without the SD card and extra ports from the larger models. The MacBook Pro 13-inch may be the first to get the new chip, and it still does come with an active cooling fan – but the performance gap compared to the Air is far from huge.

Apple has moved on from the Touch Bar, but this laptop has not. So perhaps this is the only real reason to have one when the premium for the 14-inch MacBook Pro is well worth it as it gives you an XDR display, M1 Pro’s added performance, MagSafe, and extra ports.

iPadOS 16 will feel more like working on a Mac

The next version of iPadOS has made it possible to work with an external display on M1-powered iPad Pros. And not to mirror the main image, but have a secondary workspace when plugged into an external display. This will make multi-tasking more productive for iPadOS users.

iPadOS 16 external display support

There’s also a new Stage Manager feature that makes it possible to resize and manipulate windows when multi-tasking on an iPad which makes for a nice alternative to split-screening it. This should make the experience that much closer to feeling like you’re using a real computer. Sadly, Stage Manager and external display features will only be available for M1-powered iPads.

iPadOS 16 Stage Manager

There’s also now an official Weather app on the iPad which had many folks clamoring. It’s been too long a time for Apple to not have released an official Weather app for the iPad (just as it has a weather app on the iPhone).

iOS 16 sees minor updates

iOS 16 was announced, and the most significant changes were mostly adding features that Apple’s competitors already used. This is the part where you tell me that Apple did it better – meh, you’re probably right.

One of the most cheer-worthy updates are those coming to iMessage, with the ability to unsend messages and edit recently sent-iMessages.

Undo Send or Edit a message

The Lock Screen is getting a significant update to the way it acts, the way it looks, and the way you interact with it. Basically, Lock Screens are now customizable – and you can make many of them - with widgets inspired by Apple Watch Complications, which is a great way to tie it into iOS.

The new lock screen

There are also glanceable widgets called Live Activities, which are honestly just widgets on the lock screen.

Live Activities

The Photos app gets some new sharing features and facial recognition suggestions. Again, iOS 16 doesn’t get any major stuff, even if there are some big changes to small things.

MacOS Ventura and wrap up

I am a MacOS user and Center Stage for MacOS Ventura is something that I can see improving the way I multitask on MacOS. It looks like it will be more manageable to have over 20 program windows open and not losing them when activating Mission Control.

One really cool thing was Continuity Camera, which is the option to use an iPhone’s main cameras as a web camera and the ultrawide on the iPhone enables “Desk View” letting the recipient see what you’re doing on your desk using some AI and image distortion to look like you are using an overhead camera.

WWDC wrapped with minor updates to MacOS, iOS, watchOS 9 gets some new watch faces and Health features, while iPadOS and iOS get some new UI improvements. The most significant announcement in my eyes is the updated MacBook Air with M2 chip – which, again, is the best-looking MacBook in the current lineup.

We look forward to seeing what Apple announces later this year in September, where it will deliver the next generation of its most successful product yet.