The speculation can finally end, as the rumors about the name turned out to be completely true. At its Worldwide Developers Conference today, Apple officially christened the next version of its desktop operating system macOS Tahoe. This release, part of the new "26" family of operating systems like iOS 26, is bringing more than just a new name to the table. The most significant and immediate change is a system-wide visual redesign Apple is calling "Liquid Glass."
Let's talk about this new design, because it is the first thing you will notice. Apple is taking the translucent, layered look from its visionOS and bringing it everywhere. It is a fundamental change to how macOS looks and feels, which some Neowin readers are definitely not a fan of. Sidebars, toolbars, and menus all have this frosted glass effect, where their color and texture shift based on the window or wallpaper behind them. The menu bar is now completely transparent, and Apple is also adding more customization. You can now change the color of folders, which is a feature people have wanted for nearly forever, and add little symbols or emojis to them.
The bigger story for day-to-day use might be how much tighter the Mac and iPhone are becoming. Last year, macOS Sequoia saw the release of apps like the dedicated Passwords app, and this year, with Tahoe, we get a full-blown Phone app on the Mac. It is not just for getting call notifications anymore. You can see your recent calls, check your voicemail, and access your contacts list just like you would on your iPhone. New features like Call Screening, which can figure out who is calling before you answer, are also included. Live Activities from your iPhone, like the status of an Uber ride or a food delivery, will now show up right in your Mac's menu bar.
Spotlight search is also getting a massive update. For years, Spotlight has been a simple tool for finding files and launching apps. Now, Apple is trying to turn it into an action center. You will be able to perform tasks directly from the search results, like creating a new note or sending an email, without ever opening the corresponding application. The search results themselves are supposed to be smarter and are no longer separated into rigid categories. Everything just shows up in one big list, ranked by what the system thinks is most relevant to you.
Despite Apple's ongoing AI challenges, Apple Intelligence is getting new abilities. The AI features introduced last year are being expanded. A new Live Translation feature can translate text in Messages or audio during a phone call or FaceTime, all on the device, to maintain privacy. The Shortcuts app is also getting more powerful. You can now build automations that tap directly into Apple's AI models to do more complex tasks, like summarizing an audio recording of a lecture and comparing it to your typed notes.
And yes, Apple is still trying to make gaming on the Mac a serious thing. A new dedicated app called Apple Games is being introduced. It acts as a central library for all your games, similar to launchers you might see on a PC. It also includes a new Game Overlay, which lets you mess with system settings or chat with friends without leaving your game. Apple announced that titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Crimson Desert, and Lies of P: Overture are on their way to the platform.
Other mainstays are getting refreshed as well. Safari has a redesigned tab layout, Messages is getting polls, and the Journal app is finally making its way from the iPhone to the Mac.
The first developer beta for macOS Tahoe is available today, June 9, 2025. A public beta is expected to follow next month, with the final version being released for free to everyone with a compatible Mac this fall.
You can check out all the details in Apple's official macOS announcement on the Newsroom.
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