WWDC 2020 date, keynote time, leaks and what we expect from Apple’s big show

WWDC 2020 (or Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference to give it its full name), Apple’s mid-year software-focused show, will indeed be held this year – and it will start on Monday, June 22.Apple is very likely to use the keynote of the developer focused event to give us an official look at iOS 14, alongside various other software updates, like iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16 and watchOS 7. This year, WWDC will be online-only owing the Covid-19 pandemic but you'll be able to watch the keynote live for free as per normal.It's entirely possible that we'll see new hardware at the event too. There may be new Mac hardware, plus we're expecting to hear more about the long rumored Apple AirTags as well.Given the iPhone SE 2020, new iPad Pro, and even the new MacBook Pro have already been revealed this year, we'd bet Apple won't have many big hardware surprises for us.We've put together all the information you need to know in the run-up to WWDC 2020, and be sure to check back on June 22 where we'll have a live blog talking you through the event as it happens. Cut to the chase What is it? Apple's next big developer conferenceWhen is it? June 22, and then it runs for a weekHow much will it cost? It's free (and anyone can watch the keynote)What date is WWDC 2020? Apple has officially confirmed that WWDC 2020 will start on June 22. That's no big surprise, since WWDC always kicks off in June, but it's a bit late compared to previous years, which happened in the first or second weeks of the month. It's thought the event is later as the company had extra planning to adapt the event to its new online-only format that was unveiled in March when Apple was forced to cancel the physical eventWant to watch the main keynote? It starts on Monday, June 22 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST or 3AM AEST on June 23. This main keynote is set to be the highlight of the event, and then there's an entire week for developers to dig into the details of the new operating systems further.The whole event will be free for developers, who previously had to pay $1,599 (around £1,284 / AU$2477) per ticket. Remember this is online-only though, and you'll need specific credentials to join in away from the main keynote.They'll be able to access the event through the Apple Developer Program app – developers who want to tune in can start there or use the program's website. If you're just looking to tune into the main keynote, that'll be easy to watch and you won't need a developer account. Here's how to watch along with the WWDC 2020 keynoteWhat to expect at WWDC 2020 As WWDC is focused on software, the most likely announcements are all software related, but there’s a significant amount of hardware that is rumored and could make an appearance too.We've put together a bit on each of the updates and products we're expecting to see at the event. iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 This is what iOS 13 looks like on iPhoneWhile we’re not certain that all the things below will make an appearance at WWDC 2020, iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 seem like safe bets, since Apple has a long history of announcing new mobile software at the event.That said, this isn’t when the finished versions of the software will land on phones and tablets. Rather, Apple will likely announce many of the key features and changes, and release an early developer build.This, while aimed at developers, will likely be accessible to users willing to jump through a few hoops, though a public beta will probably follow soon after anyway, with the finished software likely launching in late September alongside the iPhone 12.New features coming in iOS 14 include a dedicated fitness app, a variety of new messaging features and performance improvements. There haven't been many leaks of features this year, so we're quietly hoping for some big surprises on June 22. Everything rumored for iOS 14What to expect from iPadOS 14watchOS 7 watchOS 6 on the Apple Watch 5We’re also very likely to get our first official look at watchOS 7 during WWDC 2020, though as with iOS 14 it probably won’t be finished and launched before late September, where it might land alongside the Apple Watch 6.Rumors are few and far between for watchOS 7, but some leaks suggest we'll be getting improved sleep tracking features for your Apple Watch with a compatible app that sits on your iPhone too.There may also be new features for children to have their own Apple Watch device (think parental controls, and more) as well as blood pressure monitoring.  Everything rumored for watchOS 7macOS 10.16 macOS Catalina on a MacBookIt’s not just mobile software that we’ll likely get a look at during WWDC, the next version of macOS is also likely to be unveiled. We don’t know all that much about macOS 10.16 yet, but going by previous releases it – like the other software on show – will probably get revealed at WWDC 2020 but not fully launch until at least September. What to expect from macOS 10.16Apple AirTags The Tile Pro may have competition from AirTagsApple has long been rumored to be working on a Tile rival, possibly called AirTag, which would be a small device that you can put in a wallet or a rucksack (or attach to other belongings) and then track them if they go missing.One report in May even suggested that Apple AirTags will be announced at WWDC 2020, so it may be finally time to see the location tracking software and hardware unveiled. What we know about Apple AirTagsHomePod 2 The original Apple HomePodApple is likely working on a new HomePod, with some reports suggesting that it could be a more compact one, possibly launching as the HomePod Mini.But whether the HomePod Mini or HomePod 2, there’s a good chance a new model will land in 2020, and WWDC 2020 is a likely venue for the announcement, especially as the original HomePod was announced at a WWDC (though it didn’t hit stores until a long time later). New Apple AirPods A mockup of the AirPods Studio by EverythingApplePro.Rumors of not one, not two, but three new Apple AirPod models have been circling for a while now – and any one of them could feasibly launch at WWDC 2020. We think the pair most likely to surface are the so-called Apple AirPods Studio, which are said to be the first-ever Apple over-ear headphones. We've also heard murmurs of the AirPods Pro Lite , which will apparently be an entry-level version of the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, while the AirPods 3 are the anticipated follow-up to the original AirPods – which saw their last upgrade in 2019.  Apple TV and tvOS 14 Mention of a new Apple TV 4K model was recently found in tvOS software, so a new Apple TV could be on the way, and it’s possible it will land at WWDC.Whether or not new hardware does though, there’s also a high chance that new software will, in the form of tvOS 14, especially given that tvOS 13 was shown off at WWDC 2019, followed by a launch in September. What we know about tvOS 14New Mac hardware We’ve mentioned that new Mac software is likely to be announced at WWDC. Well, new Mac hardware is as well. At WWDC 2019 we got the Mac Pro. At WWDC 2020 we could potentially see a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or refreshed versions of any of Apple’s other desktop or laptop hardware.In fact, one big rumor suggests a new Apple iMac with an AMD Navi GPU is set to debut at the show.Perhaps the biggest rumor of all is a source saying Apple may use WWDC to announce its plans to ditch Intel processors for its future Macs. That'd be a big step for Apple, and this information comes from people directly familiar with the matter.That's unlikely to impact any products introduced in 2020, but it's be a major change for next year's Mac range. Later in the year, we're expecting the iPhone 12