macOS Tahoe Review

macOS Tahoe Review Overview

The macOS Tahoe Review shows Apple’s latest OS update as a strong, refined release that improves usability more than it revolutionizes design. While the headline feature is Liquid Glass, the real power lies in smarter Spotlight tools, deeper integration with Apple Intelligence, and improved workflows across Finder, Journal, and Shortcuts.

Liquid Glass Redesign

Liquid Glass makes macOS more subtle and distraction-free. The menu bar and Dock now appear translucent, fading into the background so apps take center stage. Finder windows adopt rounded edges and highlight active folders more clearly, while sliders in apps and Control Center are larger and easier to grab.

App icons, however, create inconsistency. Third-party apps appear inset in grey boxes, making them harder to identify. Developers will need time to optimize, and until then, Dock navigation feels less intuitive. Even so, the design direction works well to keep focus on active tasks.

Spotlight and Productivity Upgrades

Spotlight gains two major features. Clipboard history allows multiple items to be stored and pasted later, a welcome change even if it resets every eight hours. Quick Keys enable users to assign shortcuts for common actions like sending emails or messages, reducing context-switching and improving focus.

Although not as powerful as third-party tools, these upgrades make Spotlight central to macOS productivity. The system feels more fluid, especially when handling quick tasks without opening full apps.

Apple Intelligence and Shortcuts

Shortcuts on macOS Tahoe now support Apple Intelligence through the new “Use Model” action. This enables automation such as comparing PDFs or reformatting text lists into HTML. Results can vary, but the integration marks a step forward in blending AI with workflow automation.

Privacy is preserved by allowing users to choose between on-device AI, Private Cloud Compute, or extensions like ChatGPT. While not perfect, this addition makes Shortcuts more useful and hints at future flexibility with other AI models.

New Apps and Features

The Journal app finally comes to macOS, syncing across devices and offering a simple way to track entries. While it remains more powerful on iOS, typing longer reflections on the Mac is a welcome change.

The new Phone app integrates calling directly into macOS, but it remains inconsistent. Notifications sometimes fail, and call handling is unreliable. In contrast, Live Activities work well, mirroring key iPhone tasks like flight tracking directly onto the Mac.

Performance and Compatibility

macOS Tahoe runs on Apple Silicon Macs and a limited set of Intel models. This will be the last version to support Intel Macs beyond security updates. Intel machines already miss out on Apple Intelligence features, Live Translation, and new Shortcuts actions.

For Apple Silicon devices, performance is fluid, stability is solid, and compatibility issues are fewer compared to past transitions.

Verdict

The macOS Tahoe Review confirms this is not the revolutionary update Apple pitched at WWDC, but it is a strong one. Liquid Glass brings clarity and focus, Spotlight boosts productivity, and Apple Intelligence begins shaping automation in meaningful ways. Some inconsistencies remain, especially with the Phone app and Dock icons, but overall, macOS Tahoe is a reliable and worthwhile upgrade.