The year is coming to a close, but December will still bring a variety of new Apple releases. Software and services will especially be highlights. Here’s what’s coming soon, and what isn’t.
iOS 18.2 packed with major new features
iOS 18.2 is expected to arrive around mid-December, likely the week of December 9. And it’s a huge software update for iPhone users, whether you have an Apple Intelligence-compatible device or not.
Here’s an overview of the AI highlights:
- Genmoji: Make your own custom emoji for use in any app.
- ChatGPT in Siri: Siri can tap into ChatGPT’s knowledge, and you can even query ChatGPT directly.
- Image Playground: Create original AI images in animation, illustration, or sketch styles.
- Visual intelligence: Use iPhone 16’s Camera Control to get relevant info from your physical environment.
- Compose with ChatGPT: OpenAI’s assistant can draft original text from scratch inside any app.
- Custom rewrites: Apple’s writing tools let you ‘Describe your change’ for custom AI rewrites.
If your device doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, or you live in an unsupported AI region, you’ll still have a variety of great upgrades to look forward to. These include:
visionOS 2.2 with huge Mac Virtual Display upgrades
One of the most loved Vision Pro features, Mac Virtual Display, is getting the upgrade many of us have been waiting for.
visionOS 2.2 will introduce four big changes to Mac Virtual Display:
- a new Wide display setting
- an even bigger Ultrawide setting
- higher screen resolution for increased visual clarity
- audio playback that comes directly from the Vision Pro, not the paired Mac
For early adopters who may have moved away from regular Vision Pro use, visionOS 2.2 is the update that can very much change that.
Even more nice software updates
iOS 18.2 and visionOS 2.2 both bring especially compelling new features, but Apple’s other platforms are getting solid updates too:
The first iOS 18.3 betas
Apple typically releases its first beta version of new software within a couple days of launching its predecessor. This means we should see the first iOS 18.3 beta arrive in mid-December.
Mark Gurman has reported on what’s coming in iOS 18.4 next spring, but we’re largely in the dark about what to expect from iOS 18.3. Which in some ways makes the beta especially exciting, since it may hold more surprises than usual.
Next generation CarPlay debuts
Apple pledged long ago that the first vehicles with next-gen CarPlay would arrive before 2024 ends. As of late November, that promise is still listed on the company’s CarPlay website. There have also been increased hints of the new CarPlay’s coming debut, so I’m optimistic the long wait for next-gen CarPlay is finally about to end this December.
Apple TV+ new releases
Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak lately, and many of its current hits will continue airing new episodes throughout December.
Beyond those weekly releases, however, there’s admittedly a smaller batch of new content coming in December. The biggest arrival is Fly Me to the Moon’s streaming debut, with other highlights including a new nature documentary series and some children’s programming. Consider it the calm before January’s storm of new Severance and Mythic Quest seasons.
Apple Arcade new releases
Apple recently announced its Apple Arcade lineup for the rest of the year and into early 2025. There are 8 new titles debuting in December, with the highlights including:
What’s not coming: New hardware
Following Apple’s arrival of the first M4 Macs in November, the company is almost certainly done debuting new hardware this year. It’s very rare to see a December product launch from Apple. The only exceptions tend to be devices that were previously announced in advance and just barely squeak into their ‘end of year’ launch timeline. But this year, there’s no such product expected.
What are you most excited to see from Apple in December? Let us know in the comments.
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