everything we think we know about the new Mac update

If you own a Mac, you probably like macOS 15 Sequoia. And, with iOS 18, these are the most advanced software versions to date. More personalization, productivity and of course the arrival of Apple Intelligence. But as always, Apple is looking to the future and the next version of macOS 16 is on the table and in full development.

Even though we still don't know his name, we do know that macOS 16 is fully active in Apple Park Laboratories. And even though its official presentation is still several months away, we are going to compile everything we know about macOS 16.

When was macOS 16 released?

Apple will unveil macOS 16 at WWDC 2025. It's a day for developers where traditionally Apple has an inaugural speech where it always presents its new operating systems. So yes, in addition to macOS 16, we will also experience iOS 19.

When will it be this year? They always tend to choose the first or second week of June, so we will predictably be able to see macOS 16 on Monday June 2 or Monday June 9. Since the first Monday in June is so close to May, everything indicates that, finally, since Apple Park sand they will opt for Monday June 9.

When will macOS 16 be released?

The macOS 16 release process will follow a similar schedule to previous years. Immediately after the keynote, Apple will release the first beta for developers, kicking off a testing cycle that will last throughout the summer. Public betas will begin rolling out in Julyallowing the most adventurous to try the new features of macOS 16 before the official release.

Which Macs will be compatible with macOS 16?

Compatibility is one of the most important aspects of an update. Apple still does a masterful job of making it possible to update equipment that is years old behind it. However, The Mac underwent a transition in 2020 when switching from Intel processors to those developed by Apple. Due to this big jump, there is concern that macOS 16 will be the first version to be supported only with Macs equipped with Apple processors. That is to say: from the M1 chip.

This would also strengthen the development of Apple Intelligence functions, which will also experience their second generation at WWDC 2025 and which, to date, are only compatible with Apple processors. A natural approach that at some point they had to give in from Cupertino, and it seems that macOS 16 will take care of that. If you look at the previous transition made by Apple, Mac OS X Lion stopped supporting PowerPC five years after the first Intel Mac.

Possible Mac models compatible with macOS 16

• MacBook Air (M1, 2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro (M1, 2020 and later)
• iMac (M1, 2021 and later)
• Mac mini (M1, 2020 and later)
• Mac Studio (all generations)
• Mac Pro (2023 and later)

What name will macOS 16 have?

The name of the new version of macOS 16 still sparks debate. And years ago, Apple chose feline names for its Mac operating systems. Locations in Californiaand for now this is how it will continue to be. Some of the most legendary versions have been macOS Leopard, macOS Lion, macOS Yosemite, macOS Big Sur… until arriving at the current one, macOS Sequoia. What will the next name be? The team of Apple marketing always surprises usbut there are always clues we can follow. One of them is to analyze the names registered by Apple. Some of them are:

• Diablo
• Condor
• Shark
• Cliff
• Miramar
• Corner
• Peaceful
• Sequoia
• Shasta
• Grizzly bear
• Horizon
• Red tail
• Mammoth

The one that sounds the loudest is Redwood. There is therefore a chance that macOS 16 Redwood becomes a realityand even more so given the name we currently have: macOS 15 Sequoia. THE Redwoods (secuoyas) They are one of California's most iconic symbols, with a history dating back more than 240 million years in the region. This fits perfectly with Apple's tradition of naming its operating systems after iconic places in California.

In addition, there is a redwood national parkand Apple has already named other versions of macOS after national parks. The redwood forests lie between Silicon Valley and the Pacific Ocean, creating a direct connection to Apple's headquarters in Cupertino.

Will upgrading to macOS 16 cost money?

There was a time when macOS updates cost money, but not for more than a decade. The update to macOS 16 will be completely free for all compatible Macs. It will first arrive in beta during the summer of 2025, and later, in September, it can be updated to macOS 16 at no cost.

What's new in macOS 16?

Here is the crux of the problem. Rumors usually always focus on hardware: whether it's the iPhone 17 or the new Apple Watch. However, the software still keeps a little more secret. Being developed in-house at Apple and not dependent on external factories or components, surprise is always guaranteed. Of course, knowing what Apple usually does every year, it's easy to guess what the new features in macOS 16 will be.

More Apple Intelligence features

Apple Intelligence will be the main pillar of macOS 16. It will only be a year since its presentation, and Apple has significant improvements pendingincluding new features for generating content or editing images. All rumors indicate that Siri will undergo a complete overhaul with new capabilities. All of this will come with iOS 19, and there is also talk of integrating more third-party AI services such as Google Gemini.

Design and user experience

The macOS experience is exquisite and few interfaces are as elegant, minimalist and, at the same time, productive. In macOS 16 we can see a new control center similar to the one we already have on the iPhone, and integrated into the control center. This is something pending that we already have in iOS 18 and that has not reached the Mac.

On the other hand, macOS 16 may bring the App Library to the Mac. This is something we've had for years on the iPhone and iPad, and on the Mac it would make perfect sense. With dozens of applications and programs, thanks to App Library we would have organized everything automatically by categories.

Regarding the design, no major changes are expected beyond the official wallpaper. Maybe there are change in animations or visual effectsbut will retain the current essence of macOS. Within system-specific applications, they generally receive new features every year: Notes, Calendar, Messages, Photos… small touches that will make macOS 16 a more complete operating system.

Integration with the ecosystem

Continuity between devices will certainly reach new levels. More integration with Apple Vision Pro and improvements to the way iPhone and iPad connect to the Mac. No specific features are known, but this year Apple surprised us with the iPhone Mirroring tool. And although it is not available in Europe, users who work with it are delighted.

Better performance and more games

Being the first version of macOS that will be compatible only with Apple chips, Apple is sure to “unlock” this power. ORn faster, smoother performance. Who knows, even more autonomy. Of course, video games will play a main role in macOS 16. Apple has been working intensively with developers for the past few years to bring compelling titles to Mac users.

THE the countdown to macOS 16 has begun and everything indicates that Apple has major surprises in store for us. With virtually no leaks this year, the intrigue is greater than ever. The possibility that macOS 16 mark the final farewell to Intel processors in favor of Apple chips adds even more interest to this expectation. We will confirm soon if these rumors come true, but what is certain is that next June we will have a lot to discover from Apple Park.

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