Apple Inc. during its annual WWDC 2025 introduced macOS 26, also known as Tahoe. Apple has given the new OS a major design overhaul and a plethora of intelligent features for its Macs and MacBooks. The release of macOS 26 gets in step with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 through the introduction of a new “Liquid Glass” interface that makes all of Apple’s products look visually immersive.
A Sleek New Look: Liquid Glass Interface
The standout change in macOS 26 Tahoe is the new Liquid Glass design — a semi-transparent, adaptive material that reflects and refracts elements from the surrounding interface. The User Interface (UI) is updated which gives the sense of change and depth across the system.
The menu bar is made completely transparent, which takes minimal screen space, and users can also customize controls and layout in the Control Center. Also, folder personalization has been enhanced — users can now alter the colors of folders and add icons or emojis for improved organization.
Deeper Continuity Features
Apple has gone one step ahead with Continuity during macOS 26. The Phone app built into Mac now reflects the iPhone experience, allowing users to handle Recents, Favorites, Voicemail, and even such features as Call Screening and Hold Assist.
Another new feature is the ability to view Live Activities from a nearby iPhone directly in the Mac’s menu bar. Whether it’s an upcoming Uber ride, live sports scores, or flight updates, users can now glance at real-time information without switching devices. Tapping these activities will open them via iPhone Mirroring, offering seamless cross-device interaction.
Spotlight Gets Smarter
Apple’s Spotlight search has finally been hugely upgraded in the Tahoe. The search tool now draws in more broad results from apps, messages, and files, even for cloud storage, and ranks them according to user relevance.
What truly sets this upgrade apart is that Spotlight can now perform actions directly. Users can send an email, start a podcast, or create a note — all without opening a separate app. These “Quick Actions” extend to third-party apps as well and will grow smarter over time, learning user habits to suggest relevant tasks.
Powered by Apple Intelligence
macOS 26 also incorporates Apple’s new AI platform, Apple Intelligence, introducing capabilities such as Live Translation, improved Image Playground, Genmoji generation, and an enhanced Shortcuts app. These capabilities are meant to provide easy-to-use and user-tailored experiences across the system.
Compatible Devices
macOS 26 Tahoe will run on Apple Silicon and some newer Intel-based Macs. Devices eligible for the update are:
MacBook Air (M1 or later)
MacBook Pro (2020 or later)
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019 or newer)
Mac mini (2020 or newer)
Mac Pro (2019 or newer)
Mac Studio (2022 or newer)
iMac (2020 or newer)
Older Intel Macs, including the 2020 MacBook Air with Intel chips, will remain on macOS Sequoia.
With macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple is blending aesthetics with intelligence, offering a smarter, more unified experience across its ecosystem.
