Adapted by:
Javier Pastor
Senior WriterComputer scientist turned tech journalist. I've written about almost everything related to technology, but I specialize in hardware, operating systems and cryptocurrencies. I like writing about tech so much that I do it both for Xataka and Incognitosis, my personal blog.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
How can you improve a product significantly year after year? Moreover, how can you do so when the product has been on the market for more than two decades and is already highly developed? This is the challenge Apple faces every year with macOS, the operating system that has powered its Macs since OS X debuted in 2001.
In the last quarter century, macOS has undoubtedly changed, but surprisingly, not by much. Anyone who used a Mac back then wouldn’t feel too out of place using one today. Of course, they would notice changes and modern features, but the interface has essentially remained the same for one simple reason: it works.
To adapt to the times, Apple imposed a rule on itself to release a new version of macOS—and subsequently, the rest of its operating systems—every year. This was reasonable initially, but over time, the pace has worked against Apple.
While it was logical to expect significant changes in features and performance in the early years, things have been very different in recent editions. There hasn’t been as much to work with, and it’s been a long time since users have experienced significant surprises.
Instead, Apple has focused on specific areas of the operating system to deliver meaningful performance improvements. Let’s review what happened in the last three versions of macOS:
- macOS 14 Sonoma (2023): Introduced desktop widgets, slow-motion wallpapers and new video conferencing features, but nothing spectacular.
- macOS 15 Sequoia (2024): Debuted iPhone mirroring, a password app, and desktop window management options.
- macOS 16 Tahoe (2025): Along with the Liquid Glass redesign, the latest version improves iPhone mirroring and introduces changes to Spotlight and Shortcuts, making them more powerful than ever.
Still, none of these changes stand out as particularly noteworthy. They may be disappointing to the most demanding users. “Is this all that’s changing after a year?” they may ask. It’s a fair question, but several factors explain this apparent lack of ambition.
First is the maturity of the operating system. With macOS, users have a stable, reliable system that works as expected. Apple has refined it over time, allowing it to consolidate its mechanics while adding minor improvements.
This is how macOS has quietly adapted to new times—through internal changes, support for new standards and protocols, and compatibility with devices that have become part of the company’s ecosystem. A good example is Continuity, the system that connects the iPhone to the Mac, which debuted—surprisingly—more than a decade ago.
This maturity also ties into a second factor behind Apple’s measured approach. The old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies strongly here. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when everything works as it should.
A third factor is scale. It’s easy to make changes when you have a small user base and your operating system or platform is still new. But when more than 1 billion users depend on your system, as with Apple, even the smallest change can impact millions of people. Each update must be carefully planned, and no change can be too radical. This is why Liquid Glass isn’t “so different.” Imagine if Apple suddenly altered keyboard shortcuts or the way you use Finder.
Apple understands this reality better than anyone. Its solution has likely been the most reasonable approach given the pressure to release a new system every year. The goal isn’t to wow users with drastic changes, but to offer small, practical improvements that make daily life easier. That’s why Continuity exists, and that’s why the current focus is on a supercharged Spotlight that could help many users.
Is that disappointing? Maybe. But is it the best option given Apple’s yearly update cycle? As tedious or complicated as it may seem, it likely is.
Image | Apple
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