- What's The Latest Osx
- What Is The Latest Os X For Mac
- What Is The Latest Osx Version
- What Is The Latest Os X For Macbook Pro
- What Is The Latest Os X For Apple
![Whats The Latest Osx Whats The Latest Osx](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RW9ZwPkVYcd_pcOtU4ZB39hjuBE=/0x0:2040x1360/1200x800/filters:focal(857x517:1183x843)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63969107/wwdc2019DSC_4114.0.jpg)
The latest version of macOS is macOS 11.0 Big Sur, which Apple released on November 12, 2020. Apple releases a new major version roughly once every year. These upgrades are free and are available in the Mac App Store. All MacBook generations after the original MacBook1,1 Core Duo 1.83-2GHz one will run OS X 10.7 (the original MacBook will only run 10.6.8). The three generations shipping in 2007 top out at OS X 10.7.5. The only A1181 MacBooks that will run 10.8 or later are the Early and Mid 2009. With the macOS 11 SDK, your app can take advantage of a redesigned user interface, widgets in Notification Center, and new SwiftUI layouts. Machine learning adds style transfer and action classification to models that are ready to be trained, and offers a CloudKit-based deployment solution.
Which Mac operating system is the best is a topic of numerous debates among Apple fans.
Since the mission of this blog is to refute myths and legends around Macs, it’s time for me to provide my 2 cents about the issue on hand. While everything below is just my opinion, as a long-time Mac user and veteran software engineer, I hope my opinion worth something.
The best Mac OS version is the one that your Mac is eligible to upgrade to. In 2021 it is macOS Big Sur. However, for users that need to run 32-bit apps on Mac, the best macOS is Mojave. Also, older Macs would benefit if upgraded at least to macOS Sierra for which Apple still releases security patches.
How to Tell Which macOS You Are Running
To find out which macOS is currently running on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the menubar
- In the dropdown click on the first item: About This Mac
- The first line in the Overview tab is the name of the current OS.
What Version of OS Can My Mac Run?
Not all Macs can be upgraded to the latest OS version. For instance, old Macs powered by PowerPC CPUs cannot run OS intended for Intel-based computers. Also, some versions have hardware limitations.
For instance, Mojave cannot be installed on MacBook Pro earlier than Mid 2012 model.
Check below to know exactly what version of OS your Mac can run.
Which OS is Best for my Mac
Anytime someone asks me which OS is best for them I always suggested going with the latest. Things have changed recently, however.
Should I Upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur?
While personally I like macOS Big Sur and have it installed on my MacBook Pro, it comes with serious breaking changes.
The first issue is compatibility.
Big Sur is a transition OS which is designed to help Apple to move from Intel processors to their own chips on ARM.
After I installed Big Sur on my MacBook Pro mid 2020 (pre-Silicon), most of my apps, including Microsoft Office, were working as expected.
However, my VMWare Fusion 11 does not start anymore, so I have to purchase a new license if I want to keep using it (or roll back to Catalina). Luckily, I took a full backup before the upgrade.
The second breaking issue is the lack of 32-bit app support.
macOS Catalina and Big Sur can only run 64-bit apps.
If you wondering whether you should upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur, first verify that you don’t have any 32-bit apps. But first, take a back up, so you can go back in case something breaks after the upgrade.
For instance, I had to remove uTorrent after upgrade. Realistic voice changer. And I didn’t know that uTorrent is 32-bit!
How to Know If App is 32-bit or 64-bit
To find out whether the app on your Mac is 32-bit or 64-bit follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the Mac screen
- Click on About This Mac option
- Click on System Report button in Overview tab (first one)
- Scroll down to Software -> Applications
- Find the app and check Kind
Which macOS Should I Use
If you have an older Mac which is not eligible to upgrade with some latest software or hardware, I’d suggest upgrading at least to Sierra (or better High Sierra) for the following reasons:
- Sierra is still supported by Apple, and it gets security updates
- APFS file system is available
- It supports Siri
- Significant security improvements
What's The Latest Osx
The most important point when choosing the best OS is the ability to get security updates. While Apple generally does not announce the OS end of life dates, it is possible to know when they stop releasing security updates from this page.
What Is The Latest Os X For Mac
For instance, according to the page, the last security update for OS X Yosemite was released on September 12, 2017. The last update for OS X El Capitan was in July 2018, and Carnegie Mellon University confirmed that El Capitan’s end of life date was August 2018.
Snow Leopard Myth
I know that some users on forums believe that the best OS version for Macs was Snow Leopard. But that is a myth. And I know how such myths get created.
Once I worked in the company, which was selling a 20-year old product. And customers were still using and didn’t want to switch to new versions, because the old one was rock solid.
I then talked to the engineer who worked on the project, and he revealed that the product was a total disaster when it was first deployed. Engineers had to work on-site for almost a year in order to fix all bugs.
After five or so years of polishing the product, it becomes virtually bug-free, and nobody now remembers how bad it was when it was first rolled out. A similar thing happened Snow Leopard, and it was recognized as best mac os version after some time.
How to Update to the Latest Version
There are two ways to update to the latest OS version on Mac:
- From the Software Update section in System Preferences
- Use a download link
Using Software Update
This is by far the best option, but it only available if you have Yosemite, or later OS installed already. If you enabled automatic updates, then Mac will inform you that the next macOS is available.
Just open System Preferences, go to Software Update and click on the Upgrade Now button.
This method is also best if wondering how to check if you have the latest version of OS installed on your Mac. Only the version compatible with your hardware will appear here.
For instance, my the latest version for Mac Mini 2012 is Mojave, I can’t install anything newer than that.
Using download links
For older systems or in case you need to downgrade, you have to download a standalone installer in DMG format. DMG stands for disk image, similar to ISO, just different formats.
After downloading the installer, just double click on it and follow instructions. Again, do not forget to take a backup before the upgrade.
Mac OS Comparisons: Requirements, Features, Compatibility, Download Links
Following is a high-level description of all Mac operating systems as early as Mountain Lion.
You can refer to those descriptions when deciding which operating system is best for your iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, or MacBook.
With each OS description, I included a list of Macs supported. However, you can use Mac OS compatibility checker for more detailed information.
macOS 11 Big Sur
macOS v11 (codename Big Sur) is the latest version of the operating system for Apple computers.
Release date: October 13, 2020 14 year old voice changer.
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement 4GB. Big Sur is the first OS to support new Macs using ARM technology (in the future).
Features
- The biggest design refresh since macOS X.
- Support for new ARM processors.
- Safar improved performance and power consumption.
- Time Machine supports backup to APFS volumes.
- One-click translation for 7 languages.
- Redesigned maps
Software Compatibility Issues
Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Big Sur.
How to install
There are two ways to install Big Sur: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Big Sur
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- MacBook Air (2013 and later)
- MacBook Pro (2013 and later)
- Mac mini (2014 and later)
- iMac models (2014 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac Pro (2013 and later)
macOS 10.15 Catalina
Release date: October 7, 2019
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement increased from 2GB to 4GB.
Features
- Introduced Sidecar, which allows for Macs to use an iPad as an external display.
- iTunes was replaced by separate apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV.
- Find My Mac and Find My Friends have merged into one app.
Software Compatibility Issues
macOS Catalina is the first Mac operating system that does not support 32-bit applications. Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Catalina.
How to install
![Whats The Latest Osx Whats The Latest Osx](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/Mac_OS_X_Timeline_of_Versions.png)
There are two ways to install Catalina: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Catalina
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac models (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
macOS 10.14 Mojave
Release date: September 24, 2018
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 18.5GB free space on disk
Features
- The main feature of Mojave is “Dark Mode”
- FaceTime adds group feature which allows chatting with up to 32 people
- News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home apps were ported from iOS to Mac.
How to install
If your Mac is eligible to update to Mojave, then the easiest way to install it is by enabling automatic updates. Downloading a standalone Mojave installer could be a little tricky.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Mojave
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 and 2010-2012 models with upgraded GPU)
macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Release date: September 25, 2017
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 14.3GB free space on disk
Features
- APFS (Apple File System) becomes the default file system in High Sierra. It’s a significant upgrade from the older HFS+ in terms of speed, size, and security
- iCloud support of Messages which allows sync messages of the account across multiple devices
- Mail app uses 35% less storage space due to optimizations
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS High Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
How to install
Here is a High Sierra download link.
macOS 10.12 Sierra
This is the first macOS version. Previous OS versions for Macs were called OS X (X stands for 10).
Release date: September 20, 2016
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Siri was introduced to Macs
- Optimized storage with iCloud sync
- Auto-lock feature allows unlocking MacBook with paired Apple Watch
- APFS preview available
- Disk Utility can manage RAID sets again
- Significant security improvements
How to install
Here is a Sierra download link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
OS X 10.11 El Capitan
Last OS X version.
Release date: September 30, 2015
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- System Integrity Protection – a security feature that protects even when the root user executes the process
- Performance improvements: open PDF files four times faster, Mail is twice faster, launching apps 40% faster
- Notes app similar to the app in iOS
Macs compatible with OS X El Capitan
same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
Here is El Capitan download link.
OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Release date: October 16, 2014
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Macs compatible with OS X Yosemite
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
Features
- Major user design overhaul
- Introduction of Handoff and Continuity features
- Photos app replaced iPhoto and Aperture
How to install
Here is Yosemite download link.
OS X 10.9 Mavericks
First free Mac OS. Previous OS versions vary from $19.99 to $129.
Release date: October 22, 2013
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Compressed Memory feature automatically compresses inactive apps when approaching maximum memory capacity
- Timer coalescing is a feature that reduces CPU usage by up to 72 percent
- App Nap puts apps that are not currently visible to sleep
Macs compatible with OS X Mavericks
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
OS X Mavericks installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install Mavericks.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Must be purchased. Fixed many bugs introduced in OS X Lion.
Release date: July 25, 2012
System Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- New apps: Notification Center, Notes, Messages, Game Center
- AirPlay mirroring allowed to mirror Mac screen to Apple TV
- Application updates automatically install from the App Store
List of Apple computers compatible with OS X Mountain Lion
- iMac (Mid-2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
How to install
Mountain Lion installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install OS X Mountain Lion.
List of older Mac OS Versions
Following Mac OS versions are still running on older Macs, but Apple does not support them anymore, and there is no point to upgrade (or downgrade) to them:
- OS X 10.7 Lion
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar
- Mac OS X 10.1 Puma
- Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah
The latest macOS version is macOS Big Sur. It was released in November 2020 and s available for everyone to download. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest Mac operating system.
Will my Mac run macOS Big Sur?
According to Apple, the oldest Macs to support macOS Big Sur will be the ones from 2013. macOS Big Sur is perfectly fit for MacBook 2015 and newer, MacBook Air 2013 and newer, Mac mini and iMacs from 2014 and newer, and also Mac Pros 2013 running macOS Mojave or later version.
Storage Space: 12 GB of free space
Memory: 2-4 GB RAM
Time: 30-50 minutes installation time
Space issue is the most crucial, though. The 12 GB of storage is a formal requirement but in reality, you’ll need twice as much to prepare the backup. No worries, if you scan your Mac with CleanMyMac X, you can free up tens of gigabytes of space by removing junk files and uninstalling applications. Download CleanMyMac X for free and get your Mac cleaned and ready for macOS Big Sur.
Memory: 2-4 GB RAM
Time: 30-50 minutes installation time
Space issue is the most crucial, though. The 12 GB of storage is a formal requirement but in reality, you’ll need twice as much to prepare the backup. No worries, if you scan your Mac with CleanMyMac X, you can free up tens of gigabytes of space by removing junk files and uninstalling applications. Download CleanMyMac X for free and get your Mac cleaned and ready for macOS Big Sur.
How to check your macOS version
To see which version of macOS you have on your Mac, follow the steps:
- Click the Apple menu icon at the top left corner of your screen.
- Choose About this Mac.
- Check the version in the Overview tab.
How to update your Mac to the latest version
You can download the latest version of the macOS from the App Store. The process is not difficult but requires some preparation. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to upgrade to macOS Big Sur.
We've prepared the quick tour about the new Apple macOS — check it out.
What are the new features in macOS Big Sur?
Safari reborn
Apple’s Craig Federighi dubbed the current update “The biggest update in the history of Safari.” It’s been shown to outperform Chrome in various tests — another reason for Mac users to feel proud. Now you can customize Safari like never before, set the start page theme, control videos from the menu bar, etc. And, to the dismay of marketers, Safari gives you an option to switch off all your tracking cookies.
Fancier icons
The Dock panel got a full on facelift featuring smaller icons, round edges, more in tune with iOS look. For the last few years Apple has been merging both systems together, and now the gap between the mobile and Mac seems to be almost unnoticeable.
Control Centre
Control Centre is the new quick-access pane that shines in Big Sur’s upper right corner. From there you can adjust volume, screen brightness, and finally, access Bluetooth in one click. Control Centre has handy toggles and keeps all the important controls in one place making it an instant like.
64-bit applications
If you skipped macOS Catalina and, are still running macOS Mojave, there is an issue about 32-bit apps you should know about. Before Catalina the 32-bit / 64-bit app distinction was known only to programmers. These numbers represent different types of app architecture. Starting macOS Catalina and continued on Big Sur, 32-bit apps will no longer be supported on Macs. For many users this will be the single reason to avoid it and stay with good ol’ Mojave. Some big name applications, are still yet to be optimized for Big Sur and 64-bit.
What Is The Latest Osx Version
If you’re still planning to upgrade, there are tools to make the transition less painful. For example, the Mac problem-fixing tool, CleanMyMac X, has an Updater feature. It checks how many 32-bits you have and updates them to newer versions (if such are available).
Download the free version of CleanMyMac X here
What Is The Latest Os X For Macbook Pro
What were the previous macOS versions called?
Here’s a list of the most recent versions of macOS and OS X
Name | Year of release | Features |
macOS Big Sur | 2020 | Visual overhaul, faster Safari, Control Centre app, privacy improvements. |
macOS Catalina | 2019 | iPad apps on Mac a.k.a Sidecar, new Music, and Podcasts apps, Screentime. |
macOS Mojave | 2018 | Dark mode, dynamic wallpaper, redesigned Mac App Store. |
macOS High Sierra | 2017 | APFS,Metal 2, support for HEVC video, improvements to VR |
macOS Sierra | 2016 | Siri on the Mac, iCloud Drive, optimized storage, Universal Clipboard |
OS X El Capitan | 2015 | San Francisco system font, Metal, split screen mode, improved spotlight |
OS X Yosemite | 2014 | Re-designed ‘flat’ interface, Continuity, Handoff, Photos |
OS X Mavericks | 2013 | Improved battery life, iBooks, Maps, Finder tabs, faster Safari |
The brief evolution of macOS versions
What Is The Latest Os X For Apple
The latest version of macOS,Big Sur, looks set to be even better than the previous macOS, Catalina. There are lots of good reasons to download and install it since it became available in November, 2020. Lots of staple Mac apps have already been optimized for Big Sur. One of them is CleanMyMac X that helps to speed up the system and free it up from excessive junk.