Apple's latest operating system update, macOS 26 codenamed Tahoe, has rolled out with significant visual changes and enhanced device integration, but early adopters are discovering both exciting new features and frustrating compatibility issues. The update represents Apple's continued push toward streamlining the user experience across all devices while introducing the company's new Liquid Glass design language to Mac computers.
macOS 26 Tahoe Compatibility Requirements
- Requires M1 processor or later
- Intel-based Macs not supported
- Effectively excludes most Macs manufactured before 2020
Liquid Glass Design Transforms the Mac Experience
The most immediately noticeable change in macOS 26 is the introduction of Apple's Liquid Glass design theme, which brings a translucent aesthetic to the dock, sidebars, and toolbars. This visual overhaul creates a sense of depth and dimensionality while reducing UI clutter by allowing more content to show through semi-transparent elements. Users can now customize folder appearances in Finder with colors, names, and even emojis, bringing Mac customization closer to what Windows users have enjoyed for years. The update also includes new wallpapers and supports both light and dark modes with customizable color tones.
iPhone Integration Reaches New Heights
One of the most significant additions is the native Phone app for Mac, which finally allows users to make calls, access contacts, and view recent call history directly from their computer. The integration extends beyond basic calling functionality to include live activities from iPhone apps, such as tracking Uber rides or food deliveries. When users click on these live activities, iPhone Mirroring opens, enabling direct interaction with iPhone apps from the Mac desktop. This seamless integration represents a major step forward in Apple's ecosystem connectivity.
New Integration Features
- Native Phone app with iPhone call/contact sync
- Live activities mirroring from iPhone
- iPhone Mirroring for direct app interaction
- Enhanced Spotlight with natural language processing
- Desktop widgets support
- Customizable Control Center
Spotlight Becomes a Powerful Control Center
macOS 26 transforms Spotlight from a simple search tool into a comprehensive control panel that understands natural language and integrates with Shortcuts. Users can now perform app-specific actions through Spotlight, such as adjusting photo editing settings in complex applications like Photoshop. The new Quick Keys feature allows users to create custom hotkeys for frequently used commands, while clipboard history and Apple Intelligence integration enable advanced automation capabilities including text summarization and image creation.
Desktop Widgets and Enhanced Personalization
The update introduces desktop widgets, allowing users to place essential information like weather, calendar events, and world clocks directly on their desktop rather than hiding them in the Notification Center. The semi-translucent design maintains visual cleanliness while providing at-a-glance information. Additionally, the Control Center becomes fully customizable, matching the flexibility available on iPhone and iPad, enabling users to arrange frequently accessed settings according to their preferences.
Compatibility Concerns and Missing Features
However, the update comes with significant drawbacks. Apple has completely removed Launchpad, the iPad-style app launcher that many users relied on for organizing applications in custom folders and arrangements. The replacement Apps launcher in the Dock lacks the organizational flexibility that made Launchpad popular, forcing users to find alternative solutions like creating custom folders in the Dock. Safari users have also lost the compact tabs feature, which helped manage screen space when working with multiple browser tabs.
Removed Features in macOS 26
- Launchpad app launcher completely deprecated
- Safari compact tabs feature removed
- Replaced with Apps launcher in Dock (limited organization options)
Third-Party App Breakage Creates Hidden Costs
Perhaps most frustrating for users is the compatibility issues with established third-party applications. Bartender 5, a popular menu bar organization tool, becomes completely incompatible with macOS 26, causing system errors and menu bar malfunctions. While the developer offers Bartender 6 as a compatible replacement, the upgrade costs USD 12 for existing users, creating an unexpected expense for what Apple markets as a free operating system update. This pattern of third-party app breakage adds hidden costs to the macOS upgrade process.
Third-Party App Compatibility Issues
- Bartender 5: Completely incompatible, causes system errors
- Bartender 6: Compatible replacement available for USD 12 upgrade fee
- Full price for new users: USD 20
Hardware Requirements Leave Intel Macs Behind
The update also marks a definitive end to Intel Mac support, requiring an M1 processor or later to run macOS 26 Tahoe. This compatibility requirement effectively phases out most Mac computers manufactured before 2020, forcing users with older hardware to remain on previous operating system versions like Sequoia or Sonoma. While this move was expected, it represents a significant limitation for users who haven't upgraded their hardware in recent years.
The macOS 26 Tahoe update demonstrates Apple's commitment to visual consistency and device integration across its ecosystem, but the removal of beloved features and third-party compatibility issues create friction for users seeking to upgrade. Whether the new features justify these compromises will likely depend on individual user priorities and hardware configurations.