Apple has previewed macOS Tahoe 26, the next major update to its desktop operating system, bringing a new design, enhanced Continuity features, significant Spotlight updates, and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities.
Design updates
The new design introduces the Liquid Glass material, offering translucent effects that reflect and refract the surroundings. Key elements such as the Dock, sidebars, and toolbars have been refined to focus on user content, and the menu bar is now completely transparent to maximise display space.
Customisation options have been expanded, allowing users to arrange controls in the menu bar and Control Centre, and apply different colours or emojis to folders and app icons. New light and dark appearances for app icons, as well as updated wallpapers and theme colours, are also included.
Continuity improvements
macOS Tahoe introduces the Phone app to the Mac via Continuity, allowing users to relay cellular calls from their iPhone, access Recents, Favourites, and Voicemails, and use features such as Call Screening and Hold Assist. Call Screening answers calls from unknown numbers and gathers information for the user, while Hold Assist enables users to keep their place in a queue and continue working.
Live Activities from iPhone are now integrated into the Mac menu bar, displaying real-time events such as flights, rides, or sports scores. Clicking a Live Activity opens iPhone Mirroring for further details and interaction.
Spotlight enhancements
Spotlight receives an update with the ability to execute hundreds of actions, such as sending emails or creating notes, directly from the search interface. Search results are grouped and prioritised by relevance, with new filtering and browsing options for faster content discovery, and improved support for documents in third-party cloud drives.
Spotlight now supports actions from both Apple and third-party apps via the App Intents API. Users can also run shortcuts and perform personalised actions based on routines, as well as use quick keys for rapid commands.
Apple Intelligence features
Apple Intelligence expands with features focused on productivity, communication, and creativity. Live Translation provides text and audio translation in real time across Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls, using on-device models to maintain privacy.
Shortcuts can now leverage Apple Intelligence models for tasks such as text summarisation and automatic image creation. Shortcuts can run at designated times or upon specific actions. Users may also access ChatGPT for broader world knowledge within shortcuts.
Genmoji and Image Playground receive updates allowing users to customise emoji attributes and apply various artistic styles, including those powered by ChatGPT. Reminders can now be automatically categorised and action items identified through Apple Intelligence.
Gaming and developer tools
The release introduces the Apple Games app, centralising games, recommendations, and social features. Game Overlay provides fast access to system settings and social actions during gameplay. The new Metal 4 framework offers advanced graphics and rendering technologies for developers.
Upcoming games for Mac include titles such as Crimson Desert, InZOI, Cyberpunk 2077, and several others, utilising features like MetalFX Upscaling and support for Apple's M3 and M4 chips with ray tracing.
Additional features
Other updates in macOS Tahoe include refreshed Safari design and faster performance, new features in Messages such as Backgrounds, Polls, and improved group chat navigation, as well as the launch of the Journal app for Mac.
Photos receives a design update with personalisation improvements, FaceTime introduces a redesigned landing page and floating controls, and Notes gains markdown compatibility and support for audio transcription from Phone app calls.
Accessibility developments include Magnifier support, Accessibility Reader, enhanced Braille Access, and Vehicle Motion Cues to help reduce motion sickness. The Passwords app tracks changes and version history for users' credentials.
"macOS is the heart and soul of the Mac, and with Tahoe, we're building on what users love most. Whether you're a power user or just getting started on Mac, there's something for everyone, with even more features to turbocharge productivity and make working across Mac and iPhone more seamlessly than ever before," said Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. "With its gorgeous new design, amazing Continuity experiences, powerful enhancements to Spotlight, more intelligent shortcuts, and updates to Apple Intelligence, the Mac experience is better than ever."
