The MacRumors Show: Apple's 2023 Year in Review

In the final episode of The MacRumors Show for 2023, we take a look back and evaluate Apple's year as a whole.


The year kicked off in January with an unusual array of hardware releases consisting of the relaunch of the HomePod alongside the release of the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pros, as well as the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini. In May, Apple announced Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, extending its own professional-grade creative tools to its tablet users for the first time.

June was particularly eventful with the announcement of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and macOS Sonoma at WWDC. Apple simultaneously unveiled the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, a new 15-inch MacBook Air model, and updates to the Mac Studio and Mac Pro lines with the M2 Ultra chip.

September marked the official release of the new operating systems and the debut of the iPhone 15 series, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, alongside the introduction of FineWoven as a new material for accessories, and the launch of AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C. In October, Apple continued by introducing the Apple Pencil with USB-C, and somewhat unexpectedly announced the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max MacBook Pros, as well as the M3 iMac, at the end of the month.

November saw Apple announce support for Rich Communication Services (RCS). The year concluded with the release of iOS 17.2, Aston Martin and Porsche previewing the next-generation CarPlay, and a notable legal development where sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ were briefly banned in the United States.

How do you think 2023 was for Apple? Let us know in the comments. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so head over and subscribe to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion where we take your questions about Apple rumors and more.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests like Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Top Rated Comments

roland.g Avatar
17 months ago

I thought that this years WWDC 2023 announcements were more important then most years. Didn't expect the M3 SoC's to be available so early. Then there was the long awaited mixed reality Vision Pro unveiling before its 2024 releases. It was still a bit uninspiring for product announcements for the rest of the year as was the previous 2022 seemed more active.
Apple under Tim has been an unfortunate timeline. Some good things, but so many missed opportunities. He doesn't understand the brand.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
17 months ago
I'd like to give Dan and Hartley a huge tip-of-my-cap for putting together and hosting all of the MacRumors Shows this year. Thank you!

Each one takes a huge chunk of work and time brainstorming, researching, organizing, and creating a polished video that people enjoy and look forward to.

Wishing you both a great 2024!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
picpicmac Avatar
17 months ago

He doesn't understand the brand.
Well, I disagree on that. He understands "the brand" very well.

Apple was headed to the dustbin of history before they introduced the Mac. It was a radical play, an attempt to boldly not go where IBM was attempting to directly the microcomputer marketing.

I remember when our department go that first Mac - it was a curiosity, a draw to the office that had it from those masses with their IBM PCs.

But Apple is not defined only by such moves. Even under Jobs' original tenure there was flailing. Then after he left there was a lot of flailing. Jobs comes back and the company had three hit product lines: iPod, iMac, and iPhone. But there were also failings during Jobs second tenure too.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
17 months ago

Apple under Tim has been an unfortunate timeline. Some good things, but so many missed opportunities. He doesn't understand the brand.
I think you are forgetting China's finally ceasing city shutdowns that severely affected manufacturing in many cities on Dec 7th, 2022. It took the first half of 2023 to recover how much that countries manufacturing/transportation of produced goods effected the rest of the world's economy including product announcements from Apple. Up to then Apple was deliberately cherry picking announcements/updates to their manufacturing releases that could best shore up not the greatest earning projections. Yes remember the financial warnings earlier this year. So is it the fault of a CEO in those conditions, hardly. If you want to poke fun at him, IMHO the Indian Factory that Apple/FoxConn talked up as a big thing mostly fizzled in the end. ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
McTaste Avatar
17 months ago
Podcast thumbnails always give me uncanny valley vibes.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sjsharksfan12 Avatar
17 months ago

What are the names of the presenters?
Dan Barbera and Hartley Charlton


Their names are listed amongst the staff of McRumors on the bottom of the page.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)