A brand new device with a “computing module” has been spotted in Apple’s beta code, implying that new hardware may be coming soon. A new device class ‘ComputeModule’ has been detected in Apple’s iOS 16.4 developer disk image from Xcode 16.4 beta. 9to5Macindicates that it is running iOS or its variant. The code assumes that Apple has developed at least two different computing modules with the identifiers “ComputeModule13.1” and “ComputeModule13.3”.
The purpose of the modules isn’t clear, but speculation suggests that they were designed for Apple’s silicon Mac Pro, potentially serving as a solution to creating a modular interface for interchangeable hardware components or adding additional computing power using technologies like Swift Distributed Actors. There’s also the possibility that the computing modules are designed for Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset or something.
Apple’s latest Bluetooth 5.3 files were announced yesterday, a move that often precedes new product launches, so the discovery of a computing module could be the latest indication that new Apple hardware is on the horizon.