Every year at Apple’s WWDC in June, the event covers a swathe of topics focusing mainly on the major changes to their operating systems. There are times they’ll announce new products alongside, but mainly this keynote (or rather, sets of keynotes) are aimed for developers. WWDC also acts as a proverbial “state of the union” for Apple each year, giving a deep dive into Apple’s technologies baked into each update. There’s also labs, along with Q&A sessions, and the yearly Swift student challenge.
Since the pandemic, the WWDC keynotes have been exclusively online, and this year it won’t be any different. While others online and some websites have suggested Apple returns to an in-person keynote presentation, this would also buck the trend of Apple’s latest keynotes full of video effects and transition animations.
WWDC 2025 wallpapers (Credit: Basic Apple Guy @BlueSky)
- Mac: Link here for Mac
- iPhone: Click here for iPhone
To quote the press release: “Developers and students will also have the opportunity to celebrate in person during a special event at Apple Park on June 9”.
Continued: “To celebrate the start of WWDC, Apple will also host an in-person experience on June 9 that will provide developers with the opportunity to watch the Keynote and Platforms State of the Union at Apple Park, meet with Apple experts one-on-one and in group labs, and take part in special activities. Space will be limited; details on how to apply to attend can be found on the WWDC25 website.”
What’s to be expected and/or rumored
Rumors have circulated online for a variety of new products not yet released, as well as a new iOS/macOS with new features not yet covered on Low End Mac.
- Every year obviously they cover their updated operating systems. macOS 16.0 may potentially be the first version of macOS to be Apple Silicon-only, but this is only rumored. It’s still absolutely possible Intel Macs may receive another year of support with yet another version of macOS (hopefully).
. - It’s rumored macOS 16 will have a redesigned UI much like iOS 19 will. A major stylistic change may not actually indicate dropped support for Intel, but it may also be a warning sign.
. - iOS 19 is rumored to be a major overhaul from the current UI, with rumors online claiming it is the greatest overhaul of iOS since version 7.
. - We may or may not have a new iPhone Air announcement, although this is likely to be pushed into the iPhone 17 lineup.
. - Unlikely: M4 Ultra, 2025/6 Apple Silicon Mac Pro?
. - Updates to Vision OS, tvOS, watchOS, etc;
What does it mean to have an Intel Mac right now
For those hanging onto an Intel Mac but with the interest in mind of looking at Apple Silicon, this announcement today starts a timeline of competing theories: macOS 16 not supporting versus supporting Intel. Mind you this doesn’t even include whether or not OCLP will work beyond Sequoia, should Apple introduce an unfixable wrench in the system.
Whether or not this new version of macOS will support your Intel Mac shouldn’t make it less useful, it’ll still run whichever OS it’s on perfectly fine, and surely it’ll still run circles around a PowerPC Mac. But if you’re keen on taking advantage of Apple’s trade-in offers or getting a little extra cash toward your new Apple Silicon Mac, now’s the time to do it. This is certainly the twilight (albeit still strong) of official Intel Mac support from Apple, whether 2025 or 2026 changes this.
See more articles:
- Late March roundup at Apple: macOS 15.4 RC, iOS 18.4 tidbits, and more
- Native Virtualization vs Emulation: A case for keeping an Intel Mac
- Adobe Photoshop: A case for keeping an Intel or PowerPC Mac
- I had an M1 Pro MacBook Pro and went for an M4 MacBook Air
- Beta Software Roundup: iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, and their new features
