macOS Sequoia is the latest upcoming operating system update for the Mac. Currently, only 3 beta versions have been released, the official version will be available to everyone from September. The update brings many new functions and improvements for even better and more pleasant use. The new features include the integration of Apple Intelligence, expanded data protection options and better password management. In this article, we'll show you all the important new features that await you in the fall. Look forward to optimized use and increased productivity.
These are the main features of macOS Sequoia
Apple Intelligence
macOS Sequoia integrates Apple Intelligence, an AI that helps you edit text and create images. For example, you can rewrite, correct, and summarize text more easily and quickly. These functions are available in various apps such as Mail, Notes, and Pages. This saves you valuable time and simply increases your productivity. Unfortunately, due to new EU rules, this function will not be available in Germany for the time being, as it does not fully meet the EU's new data protection requirements. You can find more information in the Heise article.
iPhone mirroring
With the iPhone Mirroring function, you can now control your iPhone directly from your Mac. This makes it easier for the devices to work together, so you can, for example, easily move apps, notifications and files seamlessly between your Mac and iPhone. However, this new feature will not be available in Germany either.
These new and improved apps will be available
Passwords app
The new Passwords app makes it easier to manage your passwords. You can now securely store and sync all your passwords, passkeys and verification codes in one place. Thanks to the integration with Safari, saved passwords can also be easily inserted into the respective websites. And you can now easily share passwords with your family members and other trusted people.
Video Viewer
The new macOS operating system now has a video viewer that keeps videos in the foreground in Safari while you continue browsing the web. This makes it easier for you to watch videos while doing other tasks. The video viewer automatically switches to picture-in-picture mode when you switch to another app, so you can continue watching the video.
macOS Sequoia offers productivity improvements
notes
The Notes app now has live transcriptions to easily convert audio recordings into text. You can also perform mathematical calculations directly in the notes. New highlighting and collapsing features make managing text easier.
computer
The calculator in macOS Sequoia now has a history feature that allows you to view and return to previous calculations. This is especially useful when you are performing complex calculations and want to retrace the steps.In addition to basic arithmetic, the calculator now also supports scientific calculations such as trigonometry, logarithms and exponential functions, making it a powerful tool for students and professionals.
calendar
Calendar now also shows events and tasks from the Reminders app. This makes it easy to manage all your tasks and appointments in one place and keep track of your schedule. Additionally, the month view in Calendar has been redesigned to provide a clearer and more comprehensive overview of all your appointments and tasks. This helps you plan your time better and make sure you don't miss any important events.
New features for photos and videos
Image Playground
The Photos app integrates the Image Playground, which allows you to create creative and animated images. You can choose between different styles such as animation, illustration and sketch and insert people from your photo library into the images.
Change background during video calls
macOS Sequoia now supports background replacements in video calls without a green screen. This feature is built directly into apps like Zoom and FaceTime and uses machine learning to remove the background and replace it with an image or gradient.
Additional functions
Siri improvements
The improvements to Siri in macOS Sequoia make the voice assistant not only smarter and more contextual, but also more secure and versatile. By integrating advanced AI features and the ability to switch between text and voice interactions, Siri offers an even more effective and user-friendly experience.
Advanced privacy options
macOS Sequoia offers enhanced privacy options aimed at better protecting your personal data and giving you more control over your privacy. Your privacy is greatly enhanced through features like Private Cloud Compute, granular app permissions, end-to-end encryption, and the ability to lock and hide apps. These measures help ensure that your personal information remains secure and under your control.
Compatibility and system requirements: Which Macs support macOS Sequoia?
macOS Sequoia is compatible with all Macs from 2018 onwards. However, certain features such as Apple Intelligence require newer models with M1 chips or later.Here is a list of all supported models:
MacBook Pro
- MacBook Pro M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max (2023)
- MacBook Pro M2 / M2 Pro / M2 Max (2023)
- MacBook Pro M1 / M1 Pro / M1 Max (2021)
- MacBook Pro (2020)
- MacBook Pro (2019)
- MacBook Pro (2018)
MacBook Air
- MacBook Air M3 (2024)
- MacBook Air M2 (2023)
- MacBook Air M2 (2022)
- MacBook Air M1 (2020)
- MacBook Air Retina (2020)
- MacBook Air Retina (2019)
- MacBook Air Retina (2018)
iMac
- iMac M3 (2023)
- iMac M1 (2021)
- iMac (2020)
- iMac (2019)
Mac mini
- Mac mini M2 (2023)
- Mac mini M2 Pro (2023)
- Mac mini M1 (2020)
- Mac mini (2018)
Mac Studio
- Mac Studio M2 Max (2023)
- Mac Studio M2 Ultra (2023)
- Mac Studio M1 Max (2022)
- Mac Studio M1 Ultra (2022)
Mac Pro
- Mac Pro M2 Ultra (2023)
- Mac Pro (2019)
iMac Pro
- iMac Pro (2017)
Conclusion: This is what we think about the update
macOS Sequoia brings with it a number of useful and exciting new features that optimize use. The most significant are probably the improvements in security and data protection, but even smaller updates such as the revised calendar functions can noticeably improve working with the Mac. Apart from that, the other new features are rather subtle and will probably not have such a significant impact in everyday use. If the new Apple Intelligence were to be released in Germany as well, we could look forward to an exciting and new use, but we will have to be patient for a while and wait to see whether this function will also be available here at some point. The official update will be released in autumn 2024, together with the iOS 18 update and the new iPhones.
