As we eagerly await the public release of new operating systems like iOS 18 and macOS 15 (Sequoia) later this year, it seems that Apple has already started working on macOS 16 (and iOS 19, for that matter). This new rumor, coupled with rumors of a MacBook Pro refresh later in 2024, has us talking about the future of Apple’s best technology.
Reputed leaker and industry commentator Mark Gurman noted in his most recent 'Power On' newsletter (for Bloomberg) that Apple has begun development of all its major operating systems by 2025, i.e. macOS 16, iOS 19, watchOS 12 and visionOS 3.
Mind you, Apple is hopefully starting to work on next year's big software updates right about now, although it's still exciting to know that macOS 16 development is underway. It's too early to even speculate on what next year's version of macOS might look like, and Gurman doesn't give any hints about possible features, but if Sequoia has shown us anything, we're sure we're in for another big AI-powered update. .
In fact, as we get to 2025, we wonder if Apple might be planning to incorporate AI in a much broader way with macOS 16, perhaps incorporating features that will completely change the way we use our Mac devices. Given the pace of development in the world of artificial intelligence, this can't be ruled out.
New MacBooks on the horizon?
Software aside, as for the future of Mac hardware, we're already hearing rumors about the M4 update coming with Apple's Mac line, with some reports speculating that the MacBook Pro could be the first Mac to receive the new chip (which is now only on the iPad Pro).
Based on Gurman's previous reports, we may only see the base 14-inch MacBook Pro model receive an M4 refresh this year (with the original M4), and the other models (with M4 Pro and Max) will only debut early next year. Plus, we're not likely to get any major hardware changes to Apple's MacBook ranges for the next few years, and the big step with the MacBook Pro seems to be that when it does get OLED, which would probably be a good time for a complete redesign, it might not happen until 2026.
Apple might therefore feel the need to offset the start of minor improvements on the hardware front, by making a big leap on the software front, namely a much-improved macOS 16 (with many new AI powers as mentioned , most likely). Take all this as speculation, mind you.
