macOS 16 Tahoe is imminent – here’s what to expect from Apple’s next desktop OS
Apple’s WWDC 25 is almost upon us and a new version of the desktop operating system for Macs is expected to be revealed at the event, rumored to be called macOS Tahoe.
While this should be macOS 16 Tahoe going by logical progression, there’s another theory that Apple may hit fast-forward, and it could be macOS 26. We shall find out soon enough, as the big reveal is on Monday June 9.
Whatever the next incarnation of macOS ends up being called, you may well have questions about it. When will the OS be out? What features can you expect? And which Macs will be compatible with macOS Tahoe? Let’s dive into all those details.
macOS 16: release date
macOS Tahoe hasn’t been officially revealed or talked about yet, but as mentioned, we’re expecting to see it announced at WWDC 2025, with the keynote happening on June 9.
A potential release date also hasn’t been aired. However, Apple typically deploys its new version of macOS in September or October, so we can likely expect the refreshed desktop OS to roll out to Macs around that time.
Before that, we will see the release of a developer beta (which should be imminent), and later, a public beta, for testing macOS Tahoe as the year rolls onwards. Remember, though, that pre-release software is often a rollercoaster ride of glitches and potentially show-stopping bugs, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. Most folks will want to wait for the full release of macOS Tahoe.
macOS 16: Compatibility
If you were wondering whether your Mac will be eligible for macOS Tahoe, there are already rumors about which hardware will be compatible with the new operating system. Heavily season this information, but if it’s correct, here’s a list of the Macs that’ll be able to run macOS Tahoe:
- MacBook Air M1 or later
- MacBook Pro 2019 or later
- iMac 2020 or later
- Mac mini M1 or later
- Mac Pro 2019 or later
- Mac Studio all models
macOS 16: Rumored new features
1. An all-new look
If you’ve been getting a bit bored with the look of macOS, which hasn’t changed much as this decade has progressed, here’s some potentially good news – one of the major changes rumored for Tahoe is a revamped look.
While not much in the way of detail has been provided, the rumor that the interface is due for a big overhaul comes from Mark Gurman (again). In theory, this is part of a plan to align the design language and appearance of Apple’s software across iOS, macOS, and iPadOS (as well as other platforms). So, it’ll be of even greater benefit to those with multiple Apple devices to have similar-looking icons or menus.
The rumor is that this revamp of the macOS interface will include translucent elements, and with the WWDC 2025 invite sporting a frosted glass effect, this is what we might get with Tahoe. If Gurman is correct, we can also expect floating menus and more rounded parts of the interface.
2. Accessibility features in spades
Apple recently announced a raft of new accessibility functionality across its various devices including Macs, and some of these will surely debut in macOS Tahoe.
That includes Personal Voice, which can capture the voice of someone who is losing their ability to talk, and Magnifier for Mac. The latter leverages your iPhone (or a USB camera) to be able to zoom in to, say, a distant whiteboard, and present the writing on the board to the user on their Mac’s screen – seriously nifty stuff for those who are vision-impaired.
In a similar vein, Accessibility Reader can take images of book pages and show them on the Mac display, allowing for zooming, or changing fonts or colors to make things clearer.
3. Wi-Fi timesaver
This is a feature that’s coming to iOS 19, according to Gurman, but logically it must also apply to macOS Tahoe (and other Apple platforms besides), because it’s all about unifying public Wi-Fi logins across multiple Apple devices for convenience.
As it stands, when you’re in a hotel, gym, or other place with public Wi-Fi, you may have to fill out a form before you can connect to the network and go online. Doing this on multiple devices is even more of a pain, but with this new feature, you’ll only have to complete said form once, and all your other Apple devices will automatically use those details.
So, for example, tackle the form on your MacBook, and you’ll also be good to go on your iPhone or iPad – neat.
4. Gaming app
Apple seemingly has plans for a new gaming app which spans across all its platforms, including macOS.
Details are thin on this, as it’s a very recent rumor to surface. What we do know is that it’ll theoretically be built to tie together Apple’s gaming properties as you might imagine, including Apple Arcade, and games downloaded from the App Store. However, on Macs, it’s expected to incorporate games grabbed from other third-party sources.
5. Elephant in the room: what about AI?
We couldn’t have a new flavor of macOS without seeing some fresh AI functionality injected into the mix. But what?
Well, that’s a very good question, and this is something of an odd one, because rumors abound that Apple has put the brakes on with its grand AI plans, putting back the grand vision of an AI-powered Siri to a later date. We won’t see this at WWDC 25 on Mac, iOS, or anywhere else, we’re firmly told via the rumor mill.
We have, however, heard that there’s a possibility that Apple is going to give AI powers to the Shortcuts app with macOS Tahoe. This would allow Mac users to give AI voice commands to concoct shortcuts, making these timesavers more easily usable by the less tech-savvy folks out there.
Also, we’re expecting AI to be drafted in to extend battery life on iPhones, and if that’s the case, that’d surely mean MacBooks, too? It’d seem silly not to leverage the tech for laptops.
Furthermore, there have been hints regarding Google Gemini integration for iOS, and how it might be built right into Apple Intelligence by the middle of 2025. That aligns with a WWDC announcement, of course, and if it’s happening with the iPhone, again, it seems likely that this will go ahead with macOS Tahoe as well.
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Apple’s WWDC 25 is almost upon us and a new version of the desktop operating system for Macs is expected to be revealed at the event, rumored to be called macOS Tahoe. While this should be macOS 16 Tahoe going by logical progression, there’s another theory that Apple may hit…
