Here’s Every Major WWDC Announcement Ranked
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Apple revealed a ton of surprises during its WWDC keynote. There was a lot of big news that surprised us, and others weren't as great as they could've been.
Overall, Apple would probably call its 2022 WWDC presentation a total success. There are a lot of new products we can't wait to try out as well as new software updates that are going to change the way we use our iPhones, Macs and even iPads.
With that said, not every announcement was a winner, and some announcements were clearly better and more exciting than others. Read on to see our rank for every major Apple announcement during the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference.
A "New" 13-Inch MacBook Pro
Let's face it: the M2 MacBook Pro Apple announced today was rather disappointing. Instead of introducing a brand new computer with cool new colors and MagSafe, Apple just upgraded the internals on the MacBook Pro to feature the new M2 processor.
Sure, if you don't have a MacBook Pro and you were thinking of buying one, the M2 MacBook Pro is probably the way to go. You get an even more powerful and compact MacBook Pro that's energy-efficient, and it'll handle every work and app you throw its way.
But if you have an M1 MacBook Pro already, you'd probably want to skip this upgrade until Apple brings something new to the table.
iPadOS 16 Turns the iPad into a Laptop
Apple's ongoing quest to turn the iPad into a complete laptop replacement is still going strong, and iPadOS 16 brings the company one step closer to its goal.
With iPadOS, Apple will let users make the most out of their screen's real state. You'll be able to adjust the pixel density of the windows you have open in split-screen mode. Why? This will help you get more information on the screen which will be helpful if you need to write long essays or work on large projects.
Not only that, but Apple's also going to add Stage Manager to the iPad. This feature helps you focus more on the tasks you're doing by putting the app you're using right at the center of the screen. Not only that, but you can also organize better the apps you want to leave open in the background and open them whenever you need to.
Of course, not all of us like to work on such a small screen; that's why Apple also added support for external displays in iPadOS 16. You'll be able to have up to 8 apps open, and you can have up to four apps on your iPad and the other four on the external monitor. This will take your productivity to the next level.
There are other features that are aimed at artists, gamers, and people who like to organize their projects with everyone on a call coming as well. There's no doubt that, with iPadOS 16, the iPad is pretty much a decent laptop replacement in Apple's eyes. We'll have to see how it works in practice, though.
A Beautiful MacBook Air
It's been a long time coming, but the MacBook Air finally got a new refreshment, and it was pretty much what we were expecting.
The new MacBook Air now features a flatter design, has a larger display with smaller bezels, and comes in four different colors. And, of course, it's one of the first MacBooks to feature the M2 chip.
If you were waiting to upgrade your older MacBook, this might be the right time to do so. The new MacBook comes in four different colors, including a beautiful Midnight color, and it also supports MagSafe charging like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
A New M2 Chip Is Coming
The M2 chip is something we've been expecting over the last few months, but it's still was a surprise when Apple finally announced it during the keynote.
The New M2 Chip is set to be more powerful, more energy-efficient, and take your Mac to another level. This chip will be slightly bigger than the M1 chip and bring more than 25% of performance than the first-generation processor.
This means we should see new M2 Macs coming pretty soon. Let's just hope they're more different than the new M2 MacBook Pro.
New Customization Features Coming to iOS 16
There's no doubt that iOS 16 will make your iPhone feel more elegant, customizable, and functional, and all that will happen right on your Lock Screen.
Apple announced new customization features for your iPhone's Lock Screen. You'll be able to change the clock, the font you use, and even use animated wallpapers in a new and cool way.
The Lock Screen will also get access to new tools like Focus. You'll be able to quickly access your Focus modes without getting distracted in the process. Plus, notifications won't feel as intrusive, and you can even hide them from your Lock Screen.
One of the biggest changes is coming to Messages, albeit that's going to happen across all Apple devices. The Messages app will now let you edit messages you've sent and even delete messages up to 15 minutes after you send them.
And if you deleted a message you didn't mean to, you'll have up to 30 days to recover that message too.
watchOS 9 Brings More Health Features
watchOS 9 definitely was one of Apple's best announcements during its WWDC presentation. And if you're always tracking your health with your Apple Watch, you're going to want to get this update as soon as it's available.
With watchOS 9, Apple will bring many new features, apps, and watch faces to your Apple Watch.
Starting with the Atrial Fibrillation History, or AFib History for short. This feature will use the ECG app to track your atrial fibrillation history throughout the week. By the end of the week, you'll get a report of how long you were in atrial fibrillation during the week. You can then share that data with your doctor.
The Sleep app is seeing some improvements as well, including a new feature called Sleep Stages that'll help you track not only the quantity but also the quality of your sleep. You'll be able to get a better report of your sleep and figure out when you have a night of light sleep and when you're sleeping deeply.
There will also be a new app called Medications. This app will remind you when to take your medication and give you a report of the medicine you've taken throughout a certain time, which is perfect for forgetful folks or people who really don't care about taking their medication.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are still a lot of new features coming to watchOS 9 that you won't want to miss.
macOS Ventura Will Change Your Mac
One of the biggest software updates shown during the presentation was Ventura, the new software update for Macs.
This software update will bring a ton of new features and tools to the Mac, and it's all coming in a free update.
For starters, the new macOS Ventura will feature Stage Manager. As we previously mentioned, this feature will let you keep your most important app—the app you're working on— right at the front of your screen.
What's more, this feature works with Spaces and other multitasking features on Mac. That means you won't have any problems switching spaces if you have a lot of projects on your hands.
Another cool feature that's coming is the ability to use your iPhone as a webcam. With the help of Continuity, your Mac will detect whenever your iPhone is nearby and connect it automatically, so you can use it as a camera when you're in a FaceTime call.
This will unlock a bunch of cool new features like Center Stage, Desk View, and Studio Light. Basically, you'll look like you have a professional setup when it's just you, your Mac, and your iPhone.
There are a lot more features coming to macOS Ventura, so there's no doubt you're going to want to try this update once it's officially out this fall.
