MacOS Tahoe: Features, New Design, Compatible Devices & More
The most anticipated day of the year for Apple fans has finally arrived. The company is holding WWDC 2025, an event where we saw some big software announcements, like iOS 26. One of the main innovations is the new macOS, whose latest update is dubbed “Tahoe.” Here you’ll find a summary of the main features that macOS Tahoe brings to the table.
macOS Tahoe boasts Apple’s new “Liquid Metal” design
Apple has implemented its latest design language in macOS Tahoe. This means you’ll find the “Liquid Metal” look throughout Tahoe’s UI: from “glassy” transparencies to “liquid” buttons that move smoothly—especially noticeable on the switches. The Control Center and Status Bar perfectly reflect the company’s new unified design guidelines. Apple wants you to have a familiar and friendly experience not just across a particular product line, but across all its products.
A plethora of new features
Speaking of Control Center, Apple has made it more useful than ever thanks to a plethora of new shortcuts. You can also set your own shortcuts so you have your favorite settings and actions just a couple of clicks away. Of course, all wrapped in an elegant “glassy” look.
Apple has also made macOS Tahoe more customizable. You can now choose both the color and icon of your folders, which can be great not only for aesthetics but also to distinguish some folders from others. This way, you can easily find your files based on the folder color you’ve designated. A folder for work? A folder for school? Apple makes things a little easier for you.
If you’re a heavy user of Apple’s product ecosystem, you’re probably familiar with Continuity. This useful feature allows you to move between your supported Apple devices and continue doing what you were doing. The Cupertino giant has improved Continuity by adding support for iOS’ Live Activities. “Live Activities” are that kind of “widgets” that display real-time data from your favorite apps and services. Well, now your Live Activities data will also appear on your macOS Tahoe-powered device.
The tech giant is bringing the iPhone’s Phone app to macOS with Tahoe. Now, you can conveniently access your contacts and all their data from your Mac, as well as make and answer calls. The Phone app for macOS Tahoe boasts all the improvements its iPhone counterpart will get in iOS 26. This includes the revamped “Liquid Metal” UI and Live Translation, among many others.
Apple also showed off Tahoe’s “Shortcuts.” Don’t confuse these with the classic keyboard shortcuts that let you quickly launch multiple apps and actions. The “Shortcuts” feature will give you quick access to intelligent actions to get the most out of your favorite services. There’s also an improved Spotlight that now offers action suggestions for apps directly from search results. Additionally, you can find your favorite apps easier than ever thanks to “Quick Keys.” Quick Keys lets you assign a pair of characters to your apps so they appear in Spotlight without typing their full name—or part of it. Developers can make their apps searchable via Spotlight, with support for the new features, via App Intents.
Lastly, are you a die-hard gamer? Well, macOS has been the primary platform for gamers. Still, Apple has integrated its new Games app as a hub for all your games. There’s also a new gaming overlay with useful system settings that you can tweak without leaving the game.
According to Apple, macOS Tahoe will be available on the following products:
- MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (2020 and later)
- Mac mini (2020 and later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019 and later)
