At WWDC 2024 held in Cupertino, Apple unveiled the latest update to its desktop operating system, macOS Sequoia. This new iteration brings a host of advancements, including iPhone screen mirroring, AI improvements in Safari, and better support for gaming.
Enhanced Safari with AI Integration
Safari receives a substantial boost through AI-powered additions. A new feature called Highlights is introduced, allowing users to find relevant content in a click. The revamped Reader mode now provides AI-generated summaries and tables of contents for easier navigation. Additionally, a new Viewer option emphasizes video content and offers system-wide controls.
One of the standout features in macOS Sequoia is the ability to mirror an iPhone display on a Mac. The Continuity feature enables users to manage iPhone tasks directly from their Mac. Notifications on the Mac will engage the iPhone mirror mode, with audio playback integrated through the Mac while keeping the iPhone locked. This feature aims to streamline operations across Apple devices.
Upgraded Keychain and Password Management
MacOS Sequoia also introduces changes to Keychain, highlighted by a new cross-platform Passwords app designed for easier credential management. This app will store a variety of account credentials, including Wi-Fi passwords and passkeys, and will be accessible on iOS, iPad, Mac, and visionOS. Users can also sync it to Windows via iCloud for Windows.
Apple announced the Game Porting Toolkit 2, which enhances compatibility with Windows games and comes with better debugging tools. This development aims to simplify the process for developers to port their games to macOS, potentially enriching Apple's gaming ecosystem. Titles like Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil: Biohazard, Control, and an upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, The War Within, will be available on MacOS Sequoia.
AI Features and Writing Tools
WWDC 2024 also saw Apple enter AI in a big way. A suite of AI tools, branded as Apple Intelligence, will be integrated across iPhone, iPad, and iOS. Writing Tools included in this suite can summarize content in emails and other apps, and even draft automated replies. Siri gains additional functionality to operate within apps, offering contextual assistance based on personal data, with commands accessible via voice or typing.
The developer beta for macOS Sequoia is available starting today, with public betas slated for release in July. The final version will launch in the fall. This update will be compatible with all Macs running Apple Silicon as well as select Intel models including the 2017 iMac Pro, 2018 Mac Mini and MacBook Pro, and 2019 Mac Pro and iMac.
Supported MacBooks and Unsupported Models
The update supports a range of MacBook models, extending back to certain versions released in 2017. Users with compatible devices can benefit from the latest features and enhancements that macOS Sequoia brings:
MacBook Pro
- 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro 2018
- 13, 15, and 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019
- 13-inch MacBook Pro 2020
- 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021
- 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022
- 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro 2023
MacBook Air
- 13-inch MacBook Air 2020
- 13-inch MacBook Air 2022
- 15-inch MacBook Air 2023
- 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air 2024
In addition to MacBooks, several iMac models are eligible for the upgrade. The support list also includes desktop Macs such as Mac Pro, Mac Studio, and Mac mini.
iMac
- 27-inch iMac Retina 5K 2019
- 21.5-inch iMac Retina 4K 2019
- 27-inch iMac Retina 5K 2020
- 24-inch iMac 2021
- 24-inch iMac 2023
- iMac Pro 2017
Mac Pro, Mac Studio, and Mac mini
- Mac Pro 2019
- Mac Pro 2023
- Mac Studio 2022
- Mac Studio 2023
- Mac mini 2018
- Mac mini 2020
- Mac mini 2023
Unfortunately, with the introduction of macOS Sequoia, Apple has phased out support for the 13-inch MacBook Air from 2018.
