There are no announced Apple products due to ship in January, and no rumored products we expect to hear about—with one possible exception (and it’s a big one): Apple has said Vision Pro will launch “early” this year, and at least one report says Apple is aiming to launch the next-gen headset by the end of January.
Beyond hardware, we do expect some software releases. There’s iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3 (and their siblings), which started beta-testing in December. We can also expect new Apple TV+ shows and Apple Arcade games. Here’s a summary of what we might see this month. If we don’t get Apple Vision Pro, it’s shaping up to be a very slow month.
New hardware: Apple Vision Pro?
Recent reports indicate that Apple’s next big thing, their early foray into “spatial computing” with an AR/VR headset, could launch at the end of January. The reports claim that Apple Vision Pro has entered mass production and will begin shipping to distribution centers soon, which would indicate a launch in late January or early February.
Prior reports also claimed the headset would come early in the year. When it was introduced at WWDC, Apple gave a release window of “early next year” which typically means around March, but there have been exceptions–and entirely new product categories often debut on their own timetable.
At $3,500, plus a cost for lens inserts for those who need them, Vision Pro is expected to be a very low-volume business. We don’t expect large shipments and millions of units sold in 2024. But it’s the first product in a brand new category that Apple is taking very seriously. We can’t wait to see the finished product.
Apps and software updates
With a new wave of OS updates entering beta in mid-December, it seems a sure thing that we’ll get a final release in January. That will probably be followed almost immediately by beta releases of the next iOS/iPadOS/macOS/tvOS updates.
iOS 17.3: This release adds collaborative playlists to Apple Music (after a few earlier betas teasing the feature), but the big deal is probably the new Stolen Device Protection feature that helps make it harder for a thief to access your personal data even if they have your passcode.
iPadOS 17.3: Expect the same updates as in iOS 17.3.
tvOS 17.3: We’re not aware of any significant new features in tvOS 17.3 yet. Apple Music is available on tvOS, but we don’t know if collaborative playlists can be managed on the device.
macOS Sonoma 14.3: We haven’t noticed any significant features in the 14.3 release (outside of the usual bug fixes and security stuff), with the exception of collaborative playlists in Apple Music.
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in January. It’s looking pretty thin this month. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Criminal Record: An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case — one a young woman in the early stages of her career, the other a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. January 10
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Scorsese film based on the book Killers Of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders And The Birth Of The FBI was released in theaters back in October, and is finally coming to the streaming service. January 12
Masters of the Air: Follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the “Bloody Hundredth”) as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen, and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air. January 26
Apple Arcade
Apple releases new games to Apple Arcade on Fridays, but not every Friday is marked by a new game or significant update. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Some games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll often see several projects listed in the Coming Soon section.
Blackjack by MobilityWare+: It’s blackjack! January 4
Cornsweeper: Similar to the classic Minesweeper, but popcorn-themed. January 4
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom: A 3D adventure starring Tamagotchi virtual pets. January 4
