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Apple has just revealed macOS Tahoe 26 at WWDC 2025 and as well as taking the wraps off the next incarnation of its desktop OS – known as Tahoe – the company gave us the scoop on hardware compatibility.
In other words, we now know which Macs will be good to run macOS Tahoe, and which Apple laptops and computers will be left out in the cold, stuck on the current version which is macOS Sequioa.
And as you might expect, continuing the trend set last year, more of Apple’s Macs with Intel CPUs are going to be barred from entry with macOS Tahoe.
So, which Macs will be compatible with macOS 26? Here’s the full list for the various models of Apple’s computers:
- MacBook Air M1 or later
- MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 or later
- MacBook Pro 2020 or later
- MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
- iMac 2020 or later
- Mac mini 2020 or later
- Mac Pro 2019 or later
- Mac Studio 2022 and later
As you might realize, this leaves some relatively new Mac hardware languishing in the land of macOS 15, never being able to make the leap to macOS 26.
Most notably, that includes a laptop from 2020 – the MacBook Air with an Intel CPU, as only the MacBook Air with M1 from that year is supported by macOS Tahoe.
While that’s the worst offender in terms of being prematurely shuffled off the support coil, those who own a MacBook Pro from 2018 are also left in the lurch, as are Mac mini 2018 owners for that matter.
All of those are still pretty recent machines – you could argue the iMac Pro 2017 is, as well – and none of them will be able to upgrade to macOS 26. Boo, hiss and so forth…
That doesn’t mean these Macs are suddenly rendered unusable, though. Even though Tahoe isn’t an option for them, Apple will continue to provide security updates for macOS 15 Sequoia going forward. So, it’ll remain a perfectly good operating system for as long as that happens (which should be a couple of years of updates, typically).
You just won’t get the new features that macOS 26 delivers (and you can read more about them here).
If your Mac is compatible and you want to try out macOS Tahoe 26 right now, then we show you how to download the macOS 26 Tahoe developer beta.
You might also like...Apple has announced the latest version of macOS at WWDC 2025, its yearly developer conference.
According to Apple, the new version of macOS Tahoe 26, the operating system used by MacBooks and Macs, is coming later this year, but before then an early beta version has been made available for developers to help ensure their apps work well with the new operating system. We show you how to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta if you want to give it an early try.
After that, Apple will launch a public beta that allows anyone with a compatible Mac to test out the operating system - though you should only do this with the understanding that this is an early version of the software and could lack features and could include bugs (after all, the reason for releasing a beta version is for people to help test out the software and highlight problems).
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadarAs usual, macOS Tahoe 26 will be a free update for everyone with a compatible Mac or MacBook, so for most people I recommend holding on tight for the official launch around October or November, as by that point most, if not all, of the bugs and issues found in the beta version will have been fixed.
Until then, read on for all the info we know about macOS Tahoe 26 so far, plus the new features we're most excited about.
(Image credit: Apple)Cut to the chase- What is it? The latest operating system for Macs and MacBooks
- How much is it? As usual, it's free for compatible Macs
- When is it out? Developer Beta out now, public Beta out in July 2025, final release autumn 2025
These are the all the Mac and MacBook devices that will be able to run macOS Tahoe 26 according to Apple:
MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 or later
MacBook Pro 2020 or later
MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
iMac 2020 or later
Mac mini 2020 or later
Mac Pro 2019 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later
(Image credit: Apple)A new lookThe rumors were right - Apple has overhauled the look of macOS (as with its other operating systems), with a unified design language which means that macOS, iPadOS and iOS will look similar.
Known as 'Liquid Glass', this part of the user interface doesn't just look good, it reacts depending on the task you're performing.
The Dock, sidebar and toolbars of macOS 26 Tahoe have been redesigned, with the menu bar now completely transparent. The idea behind this appears to be to make the user interface blend into the background, giving prominence to whatever you're working on on the screen.
App icons have also been given a new look to fit in the the Liquid Glass design, and these will also change depending on if you're using the light or dark macOS theme.
Apple is also expanding on the customization options of macOS 26 Tahoe, so it should be even easier to make the operating system suit your style.
(Image credit: Apple)A new numbering conventionAt WWDC, Apple announced the official name for the latest macOS: Tahoe. Once again, based on a landmark in Apple's native California.
More surprisingly (if you weren't keeping up with the rumors), Apple also confirmed that there will be a new numbering scheme for macOS and its other operating systems. Instead numbering according to version (the current version is macOS 15), it will now be based on year, so there will be no macOS 16, but macOS 26, as well as iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and more.
This is quite a change, but it shows how serious Apple is about making all of its operating systems feel like they are parts of the same ecosystem.
Spotlight in the... spotlight...Spotlight has been a key part of macOS for ages, allowing you to find and open up applications that you've installed. At WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS Tahoe 26 will feature the 'biggest update ever' to Spotlight, with all search results across apps, files, folders, messages and more are all listed together and 'ranked intelligently based on relevance to the user.'
Advanced filter controls should help you narrow down your results, and Spotlight will also be able to search for files stored on third-party cloud drives, such as Google Drive or OneDrive.
You'll also be able to perform actions straight from Spotlight - so you can send an email, play a media file and more without having to open the app first. These can also be used via keyboard shortcuts, and according to Apple, Spotlight will learn from how you use your Mac, and will offer you personalized actions for tasks you perform often. The example Apple gives is quickly sending a message to someone you regularly talk to.
Live translationAs you might expect, Apple has put plenty of AI features into macOS Tahoe 26, and perhaps the most interesting (and useful) is Live Translation, which will automatically translate messages depending on the language of the person you're talking to (and their reply will be translated for you).
During FaceTime calls, live captions will also be shown, and if you're old school and still use the Phone app, you can see a translation of what they are talking about - and all of this is done on-device so conversations remain private.
(Image credit: Apple)Make calls from the Phone app direct from macOS Tahoe 26A running theme of WWDC 2025 seems to be making Apple's ecosystem of devices work better together, and with Continuity, the app that allows you to access your iPhone through your Mac, you can now use the Phone app to answer phone calls on your Mac, rather than having to pull out your iPhone out of your pocket.
The Phone app in macOS 26 is designed to be instantly familiar to iPhone users, and you'll be able to access recent calls, favorite contacts and your voicemails - plus handy features like Call Screening and Hold Assist.
(Image credit: Apple)If someone from an unknown phone number rings, Call Screening will answer the call and ask for information, letting you decide whether or not to answer the call.
If you are put on hold, Hold Assist will save your spot in line, so you can work on your Mac until your turn comes up. Handy!
(Image credit: Apple)Mac gaming gets better with Apple Games appGaming on a Mac is no longer the joke it used to be thanks to a steady stream of AAA games coming to macOS, and with macOS Tahoe 26, it looks like gaming could get even better.
A new app, called Apple Games, will act as a launcher for all of your games, as well as highlight new games that suit your tastes. It's not clear if this app will only show games you've bought and installed from Apple's App Store, or if you'll be able to add games from other services, such as Steam. Hopefully it'll be the latter.
A Game Overlay, familiar to PC gamers using Windows 11 and Steam, is also included with the Apple Games app, and will allow you to quickly change your settings and chat with friends without leaving the game.
A new Low Power Mode should also make playing games on a MacBook less demanding of the battery, so you should be able to play unplugged for longer - though I hope it doesn't have too much of an impact on game performance.
For 15 years, I've waited to see the iPad reach its potential. For 15 years, I've hoped that Apple's best-selling tablet would become more than just a "big iPhone". And now, it seems like my prayers have been answered.
Every year, in June, I wait patiently to see the next iteration of iPadOS. You see, I've always loved the iPad, ever since I saved up to purchase the big chonky tablet in 2010. But every year the tablet's software is merely an afterthought at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. Every year until now.
For the first time ever, Apple gave iPad the spotlight at WWDC, and now it looks like the upcoming iPadOS 26 will finally give the incredible hardware found in the best iPads a platform to shine.
Now it's the iPad's time to shineDuring my time in college, as a young student working at my local Apple Store, I opted for an iPad over a Mac to help me get through my studies.
At the time, over five years ago now, the iPad Pro was a powerful device with an operating system that was completely holding it back.
Not only was everything clunky and mobile-based, but there was a lack of proper file management and an inability to quickly manage windows.
Over the years, some of my iPadOS qualms have been squashed, but to this day, my iPad Pro M2, which is more powerful than the Mac I'm writing this article from, has been underclocked by Apple's obsession with making iPadOS the same as iOS.
At WWDC 2025, that all changed thanks to what Apple calls "An entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system."
Windows on iPad(Image credit: Apple)In iPadOS 26 (yes, Apple decided to rename iPadOS 19), users can now easily switch between app windows and organize them like never before.
In Apple's demonstration during the keynote, six apps stacked on top of each other, similar to a Mac, showcased the new ability that completely transforms the capabilities of an iPad.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadarEven better, Apple has made the new window management tool work seamlessly with Stage Manager so you can connect your iPad to an external display and reap the benefits of the new OS without being limited to mirroring what's on your tablet's display.
A menu bar, finally(Image credit: Apple)If this new iPad window management was the only announcement at WWDC, it would've been enough to tempt me to switch back to an iPad as my primary computing device. Amazingly, there's even more, including the arrival of a menu bar on iPad for the first time ever.
Yep, the iPad now functions more like a Mac than an iPhone, and I'm genuinely over the moon. Now iPad users will be able to quickly access functional tools by simply dragging down from the top of their iPad's display. Great job, Apple.
And even more Mac-like powers(Image credit: Apple)Window management, a menu bar, and... Proper file management combined with Preview.
Apple seriously decided to completely reestablish the iPad as a machine for getting things done, and finally, the high price tag of the iPad Pro seems justified.
Time and time again, I've written about the iPad's crux being its software, but Apple seems to have listened to the millions of tablet users clamoring for efficiency and decided to give the iPad every bit of attention it deserves.
In iPadOS 26, compatible devices will now have access to Preview, one of the Mac's best features which allows you to quickly access (you guessed it) a preview of your files.
Preview will be housed in a new Files app that looks more like Finder on Mac than ever before, emphasizing this next chapter in the iPad's story.
The iPad just won WWDC(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)WWDC has now been and gone, and while I come to terms with all the major announcements from the event, I can't help but smile at the fact that for the first time ever, it feels like Apple listened to its loyal, patient iPad users.
WWDC 2025 will go down as a major landmark event in the history of the iPad; it's the event where Apple made a decision to push the iPad to new heights.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadarNow, after all these years, we finally have an answer to Apple's iconic "What's a computer?" ad. Back then, the Cupertino-based company wanted you to say "An iPad", but deep down, we all knew it really wasn't. Now, however, an iPad is definitely a computer, and I can't contain my excitement.
- Apple has revealed iPadOS 26
- The new software update brings a new look, new apps, and vastly improved multitasking capabilities to iPad
- Apple is calling it the "biggest iPadOS release ever"
Apple has revealed iPadOS 26, one of the most expansive iPadOS updates of all time.
New features include a totally overhauled design, new windowing tools for multitasking, the addition of the Preview app, Genmoji, and Image Playground, and a revamped Files app.
In an official press release, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said: “iPadOS 26 is our biggest iPadOS release ever, with powerful features that take the experience to the next level and transform what users can do on iPad”
With this year’s WWDC – which we’re still covering via our WWDC 2025 live blog – Apple has taken a step towards giving the iPad the software power it needs to make the most of its fantastic hardware. We expect iPadOS 26 to release in September 2025 based on the release pattern of previous versions.
As an iPad user myself, I’m glad to see Apple pushing the tablet’s capabilities. Without further ado, here are the new iPadOS features we’re most excited for.
A new name(Image credit: Apple)The rumors were true – Apple has officially revealed that the successor to iPadOS 18 will be called iPadOS 26, instead of iPadOS 19.
If you’re wondering what happened to the seven version numbers between iPadOS 18 and iPadOS 26, Apple has decided to change the naming convention of all of its operating systems to reflect their year, rather than their version number.
However, Apple seems to be going the route of high fashion and automotive naming conventions by naming each version after the following year – iPadOS 26 is still expected to fully release in September 2025.
A new look (Image credit: Apple / Future)iPadOS 26 is getting a full-on visual overhaul, which is perhaps the most immediately exciting change coming to iPad.
Alongside iOS 26 and macOS 26, iPadOS 26 brings a new visionOS-inspired look to the iPad’s UI and software experience, constructed with a digital material called Liquid Glass.
Expect translucent textures, rounded corners, and bubbly icons both on the homescreen and within first-party apps, as well as a new ‘clear’ theme to sit alongside light mode, dark mode, and the color tint options.
Windows and multitasking(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)iPadOS 26 brings better, more flexible window management that improves on the limited windowed view offer by Stage Manager.
This is a heavy hitter of a new feature that also pushes the iPad further into Mac territory – proper window management.
iPadOS 26 offers the ability to resize and rearrange windowed apps to any size or position on screen. When you close and reopen an app, it appears in the same position and at the same size you last opened it.
For years, iPad users have been left wanting when it comes to window management – the addition of Stage Manager in 2022 added a kind of multitasking to iPad, but it’s never really felt as smooth as a Mac desktop or something like Samsung DeX. That could be about to change.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadarThe new windowing system also includes the new Exposé view, reminiscent of macOS’ mission control, and the mouse pointer has been updated to be, well, an actual pointier.
The WWDC keynote confirmed that this new window system, with support for up to six simultaneous windows, will come to all currently available iPads.
Menu bar (Image credit: Apple)iPadOS 26 also adds a menu bar to the new windowed mode, accessible by bringing the mouse to the top of the screen.
The new menu bar is reminiscent – but not identical – to the menu bar on macOS, with specific options based on the currently opened app.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadar Preview (Image credit: Apple)Preview – Apple’s dedicated PDF app – comes to iPad with iPadOS 26, making it much easier to read, edit, and export PDFs.
The app’s features include the ability to open PDFs from the Files app, create empty pages and use Apple Pencil to draw or write, and use Apple’s AutoFill system to fill in forms and documents.
As an iPad user I’ve often been frustrated by the tablet’s limited options for working with PDFs – I’m glad to see Apple implementing Preview.
Apple Games(Image credit: Apple)iPadOS 26 brings a dedicated gaming app to the iPad. The new Apple Games app is a spiritual successor to the Game Center app that was removed from iPadOS and iOS in 2016, and brings together all of your games in one place.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadarApple Games also replaces Game Center’s more recent function as the gaming-focused aspect of a user’s Apple ID. The new Game Overlay enables users to call friends or invite them to games, check out updates, and access settings.
The new app is also coming to iPhone via iOS 26.
Apple Intelligence updates(Image credit: Apple)iPadOS brings a number of Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Apple’s tablet platform.
Genmoji and Image Playground make their way to iPad for the first time, offering users the ability to create custom-made emoji and images.
Siri has also got an upgrade, remaining aware of the context of prior requests and benefiting from a large database of Apple product knowledge.
Furthermore, Live Translation comes to FaceTime and Messages on iPad and iPhone, making communication across language barriers easier.
Background tasks (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)iPads are the most powerful tablets you can buy, and with iPadOS 26 users can now access that power with tasks in the background.
For example, you’ll now be able to export a video with Final Cut for iPad while using other apps. The export progress will appear as a live activity.
This is another feature that adds flexibility to the astounding hardware power of M-series equipped iPads, and opens doors for more professional creative workflows.
Journal(Image credit: Apple)The Journal app, previously exclusive to iPhone, makes its way to iPad with iPadOS 26. Journal pretty much does what it says on the tin – it’s a place to write about and store memories, photos, and events.
Journal on iPad supports Apple Pencil, which ostensibly means there’ll be space to write and draw in each entry.
Better audio recording(Image credit: Apple)The iPad's audio recording powers have expanded with iPadOS 26. As well as the ability to choose different microphone inputs for different apps, the iPad's Voice Memos app now supports Voice Isolation, which blocks out background noise.
Additionally, users with compatible AirPods models (AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2) can benefit from what Apple calls 'studio quality audio recording'.
Other app updates (Image credit: Apple)As for other iPadOS 26 app updates, the Files App has recieved some key improvements. List view now shows more detail and a preview of each document, while folders can be added to the dock.
The Messages app gets themed backgrounds, polls, and a refreshed UI, while Notes and Calculator get advanced 3D graphing in both the Calculator itself and Math Notes.
Also, the pen toolkit accessible in apps like Notes gets a new reed pen, designed for calligraphy.
Let us know which of these iPad features you’re looking forward to most in the comments below. There’s plenty more to explore from this year’s WWDC – be sure to check out our WWDC 2025 live blog for a blow-by-blow rundown off all the updates and announcements.
You might also like- Report claims small drives face 4x the failure risk compared to their high-capacity counterparts
- Unsafe eject practices raise data loss risk by a staggering 75%, according to researchers
- Frequent transfers and careless use leave tiny drives vulnerable to serious file system damage
New research has revealed a concerning trend in external storage reliability: small-capacity external hard drives are reportedly significantly more prone to failure than their high-capacity counterparts.
Based on data gathered from over three million storage devices in the first quarter of 2025, the report from the EaseUS Data Recovery Lab claims disks under 64GB are approximately four times more likely to suffer data loss compared to drives exceeding 4TB.
The reasons behind this disparity lie in both usage patterns and hardware limitations. Smaller drives are often used for quick file transfers or as temporary backups, making them subject to frequent plugging and unplugging.
Usage habits heighten vulnerability“Frequent plugging and unplugging, high temperature and high humidity, and sudden power failure during data transmission may lead to file system errors, partition table damage, and data loss,” the report explains.
Users who neglect safe eject practices further compound the issue. The data indicates that logical errors from unsafe removal exceed the average risk by 75%.
From a hardware standpoint, cost-cutting measures in smaller drives can result in lower-quality components.
“Some manufacturers compromise in manufacturing processes and materials to cut costs, such as using low-quality controller chips,” EaseUS warns.
These weaknesses naturally translate into higher failure rates, particularly under prolonged or intensive use.
The file system is another contributing factor. While high-capacity drives often use more robust systems like GPT, NTFS, or exFAT, which are better suited to managing large volumes of data, small-capacity disks still frequently rely on FAT32.
"When storing a large number of small files, the partition table needs to be updated frequently, and the risk of metadata overwriting is high,” the report notes.
Interestingly, SSDs show similar trends, though the failure rate gap is less dramatic. External SSDs under 256GB are about twice as likely to fail as those over 4TB.
This is attributed to similar factors: frequent use, fewer flash chips, and less advanced controllers.
“Small-capacity SSDs have fewer chips. Once they are damaged, the risk of data loss is higher,” the findings state.
Although SSDs are generally more resilient and lack moving components, the report cautions against rough usage and advises careful management.
Users are encouraged to stick to safe handling practices and consider purchasing high-capacity storage from reputable brands to lower their risk.
Using a high-quality portable SSD or external HDD will reduce the chance of data loss, but no solution is perfect. Therefore, having access to the best data recovery software is a wise precaution, especially when dealing with logical errors or accidental deletions.
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I might spend most of my time writing about Apple – I was following along with the WWDC show today, in fact – but my first computing experiences were of a decidedly Windows flavor. In fact, I’ve used Windows since Windows 95, but the first edition that I truly fell in love with was Windows 7.
But it wasn’t any of the new features or functionality that captured my attention at the time – it was the design. Windows 7 took Microsoft’s operating system from a staid, grey platform that could give itself boredom into one that was modern, sleek and classy, all in a single OS update.
The key element in this was Aero, Windows 7’s glass-like transparency effect. With this in place, colors subtly refracted through windows and title bars, and it all shimmered and shone in real time as you dragged your apps around your screen. For my design-obsessed young brain, it was a graphical marvel.
It was, to borrow a phrase from Steve Jobs, so good you wanted to lick it.
Naturally, I was devastated when Microsoft did away with this design, and I still don’t think the company has been able to match it in the decade and a half since.
Yet watching Apple unveil its new Liquid Glass design language during the company’s WWDC keynote today, I felt a sudden jolt of nostalgia. Here was a glassy, translucent interface that used light and colour to create gorgeous effects on your desktop. It was everything I loved from those halcyon Windows 7 days, back with new twists for a new era.
Who would have thought that Apple would bring back a Microsoft design with such aplomb?
More than just fashion(Image credit: Apple)Of course, Liquid Glass is likely to provide plenty of fuel for those critics who allege that all Apple does is copy other people’s work. Yet not only does Liquid Glass show what a braindead take this is, it also highlights exactly the kind of thinking that goes into all of Apple’s designs – and showcase a key difference between its mindset and that of Microsoft.
Because as much as I absolutely adored Windows 7’s look and feel, Aero was essentially a cosmetic coat of paint. It was about looking great – and sure, it sumptuously smashed it in that department – but it didn’t go much beyond that.
Liquid Glass, on the other hand, is about form and function. It’s not just a pretty face (although it is that too in spades) but offers much more on closer inspection.
For instance, Apple made a point of showing the responsiveness of its new interface. Swipe up or down and your iPhone’s floating menu panels automatically adjust their size. Resizing something will prompt it to flex with your mouse or finger. It’s all designed to impact the way you use your device, not just how you look at it.
(Image credit: Apple)This hits a core principle that has driven Apple since the days of Steve Jobs: “design is how it works.” Many people think that “design” just means making something pretty, and that’s all there is to it. But design should never exist just to serve itself – it must serve the user, and that means you have to create something that works amazingly well. Design is what makes that happen.
Steve Jobs summed it up when he launched the original iMac. In response to Microsoft’s Bill Gates claiming Apple had merely put a new lick of paint on its old devices, Jobs shot back: “The thing that our competitors are missing is that they think it’s about fashion, and they think it’s about surface appearance. They say, ‘We’ll slap a little color on this piece of junk computer, and we’ll have one too’.”
In other words, you can’t put lipstick on a pig. Dress up an awful device and you still have an awful device underneath. Something must work brilliantly and look great in order to be designed well.
This idea is what makes me so excited about Liquid Glass. Not only is it a revival of the elegant transparency effects of Windows 7’s Aero, but it actually adds extra functionality. It gives you new ways to use your Mac or your iPhone, and it looks stunning while doing it.
Design is how it works. Liquid Glass just proved it.
Read more from WWDC 2025...