macOS 26 Tahoe: The New Apple Operating System – Update or Wait?
Should You Test It Now, or Wait for the Next Version?
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macOS 26 Tahoe was unveiled at WWDC 2025 and is currently available as a public beta. Contrary to what the name suggests, Apple is now using years as version numbers – hence ’26’. This version brings a visual and functional refresh that will be particularly relevant for music producers. However, new features can also pose risks, particularly in music studios where stability is paramount. So, should you update or wait?
All About Apple macOS 26 Tahoe
macOS 26 Tahoe Brings New Features – But is it Ready for Music Studios?
Design and operation: The interface of macOS 26 Tahoe is aptly named ‘Liquid Glass’, revealing its essence immediately – menus and controls appear clearer, floating and modern. The menu bar is completely transparent, reducing visual distractions. Folders and app icons can be coloured individually or decorated with emojis. It is even possible to create special icon designs, providing a more personalised Mac experience. For music creators, this primarily offers a visual wow factor, but this should be used sparingly in everyday studio life when fast workflows are important.
Productivity and ecosystem
The new Phone app allows you to control calls and voicemails directly on your computer, while Live Activities display status messages, such as those from delivery services, in the menu bar. Spotlight has been significantly enhanced to be more interactive, providing access to mail, shortcuts, actions and the clipboard. For producers, this means that routines such as rendering, finding samples or launching shortcuts can be performed more quickly – provided the functions are stable.
Apple introduced an AI layer called Apple Intelligence that could soon enrich the lives of musicians in tangible ways (expected in early 2026). The new AutoMix feature in Apple Music switches songs with beat matching like a DJ, so you don’t have to intervene manually. This is not only enjoyable to listen to, but also inspires music producers to rethink rhythmic transitions in their compositions. Additionally, song lyrics can be automatically translated and displayed phonetically, making creative reference work with foreign-language vocals much easier.
This is relevant for musicians: Support for older Intel Macs will end after macOS 26. These models will only remain compatible with this and the next version. After that, Apple will only support Silicon models. For production machines with Intel chips, macOS 26 could therefore be the last opportunity to receive updates, provided the tools continue to run. However, many professional audio engineers advise against installing beta or release versions too early, as plugins, audio interfaces or DAWs may be incompatible.
Should You Update or Wait?
If you have switched to Apple Silicon, make regular backups and have enough time for test runs, an update is recommended. New features such as Liquid Glass, Spotlight Action and the Phone app offer the potential to boost your creativity and streamline your workflow, especially if automations take place via shortcuts and faster access is possible.
However, you should wait if your studio relies on stability for live performances or ongoing projects. It could take weeks or months before plugin developers, driver manufacturers and DAW providers officially support macOS 26 Tahoe. As always, producers should be aware that a premature upgrade can lead to glitches, stability issues, or interface errors. In that case, it’s better to follow the motto: ‘Never change a running system!’
As always, the update will certainly be made available for download at the next keynote on 9 September 2025.
Which Macs will Receive macOS 26?
Here are the models supported by Apple:
- All Macs with Apple Silicon, from the MacBook Air M1 (2020) to the MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Studio, and the Mac Pro.
- Some Intel models will also remain compatible, including the 16″ MacBook Pro (2019), the 13″ MacBook Pro (2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports), the 2020 iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro.
All other Intel Macs, such as the 2018 MacBook Air, 2019 iMac, or older Mac mini models, will not receive the update.
Conclusion
macOS 13 Tahoe brings an impressive design, smart tools, and exciting continuity features to the Mac experience. However, for us musicians, the switch should be carefully considered. Only those who already work with Apple Silicon, have tested their tools and have the time to experiment should update now. Everyone else should wait until compatibility is reliably guaranteed because, in the recording studio, reliability is the most important thing.
More Information About Apple and the New OS
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One response to “macOS 26 Tahoe: The New Apple Operating System – Update or Wait?”
Been running Tahoe since developer beta 1, and everything works here in Logic (there HAVE been some quirks). But am getting my work done, and overall, it’s a great OS.