macOS 11 Big Sur release date & new features for next macOS

macOS Big Sur is coming soon with new features and a brand new design, here's everything you need to know about the new macOS

Yes, Apple’s really called its next Mac operation system Big Sur. No, it’s not another name for the headmaster of your school (get it), it’s named after a mountainous area in California. We’re sorry Apple, but we just think it’s a silly name. It’s just embarrassing to call an operating system Big Sir (but maybe we are pronouncing it wrong?)

Anyway, there’s a lot more to Big Sur than a silly name. This is definitely not a silly operating system so we will speak no more of this.

Although, there is one other thing to say about the name. It’s not macOS 10.16 as you might have been expecting. It’s macOS 11. Finally, after nearly 20 years, Apple has transitioned from Mac OS 10 (aka Mac OS X) to Mac OS 11. This is big!

Release date

The developer beta of MacOS Big Sur is available now.

The Public beta will arrive in July.

The final version of Mac OS 11 Big Sur will be with us in the autumn.

Compatibility

These Macs will be able to run Big Sur:

MacBook models from early 2015 or later

MacBook Air models from 2013 or later

MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later

Mac mini models from 2014 or later

iMac models from 2014 or later

iMac Pro (all models)

Mac Pro models from 2013 or later

There were more Macs supported by macOS Catalina. In 2019 the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models from mid-2012, Mac mini from late 2012 and the 2012 iMac were also supported.

Read more about the Macs that can run Big Sur here. Plus find out more about the changes coming in Big Sur and how it compares to Catalina here: macOS Big Sur vs Catalina: Will it be worth the upgrade?

Redesign

We couldn’t help but think that Apple was saying that they were doing just fine without Jony Ive when they were describing the design changes coming to macOS Big Sur. Sir Jonathan Ive left Apple in November 2019 to start up his own design agency (to which Apple is a client).

Previously every design change, be it hardware or software, was overseen by Ive, but now he is out of the picture, so no doubt all eyes will be on these changes and just how much skeuomorphism there is or isn’t (Ive took Skeuomorphism out of iOS 7 back in 2013 saying that there was no need to reference the physical world quite so literally).

It is, according to Apple: "The biggest design upgrade since the introduction of Mac OS X". That strikes us as a big claim, given the changes that came with OS X Yosemite in 2014, when the original Aqua interface took on a flatter, more modern look. We’re sceptical that this is the biggest design change - perhaps Apple has a short memory.

Apple says that design elements will be familiar and similar to iOS, which was the overall message of the transition in 2014 - which was itself based on changes that had played out in iOS 7. In the WWDC presentation Apple showed off the icons representing the apps (as seen in the Dock), indicating that they have have been redesigned (where appropriate) to be more consistent with the icons seen on the other Apple products. But just in case you think that Apple will have changed your beloved icons too much, fear not, the company says they will retain their "Mac personality".

Regardless of how big a change it is, the new design is intended to make navigation easier and it brings with it many of the controls that iOS and iPadOS users will be familiar with including a new Control Centre, changes to Notification Centre, and changes to app interfaces, which we will look at in more detail next.

Apps

You’ll see full-height sidebars and changes to the toolbar in apps, which Apple says will give apps a cleaner look.

BIG SUR APPS

Dock

There will be a uniform shape for app icons and more consistency with their iOS and iPad counterparts.

BIG SUR DOCK

Control Centre for Mac

This was actually one of our most desired changes for macOS. The Control Centre makes it super easy to control our iPhones and iPad and bringing similar functionality to the Mac will be welcome.

You’ll be able to customise Control Centre - which will live in the menu bar - and take advantage of quick access to popular controls such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, playing music, controlling Dark Mode and more.

BIG SUR CONTROL CENTRE

Notification Center

Notification Centre is also getting some attention. It will bring more interactive notifications and redesigned widgets. You’ll be able to see all your notifications and widgets together, with Notifications grouped by app and many interactive. So you could play a podcast episode straight from the Notification itself.

Widgets will be available in a choice of three sizes so you can pick the one that suits you.

BIG SUR NOTIFICATION CENTRE

Mac Catalyst apps

Apple has been moving of apps over the the Mac from iPadOS using Catalyst, its set of frameworks that makes transitioning apps easy. With Catalina we gained Music, Podcasts and TV. This time we Safari, Messages, and Maps are getting the Catalyst treatment. We’ll run through each below.

Safari

It’s not just the interface that’s getting a big redesign. Apple says Safari is getting its biggest update since Safari launched in 2003.

That update’s not just about the design. Safari is already fast, and according to Apple it’s going to get even faster. The company claims that Safari loads frequently visited sites an average of 50 percent faster than Chrome.

There are a number of design changes coming to Safari, but perhaps one of the biggest changes will be the ability to customize your new start page. You’ll be able to choose a background image (which could be your own photograph) and add sections like Reading List, Favourites, iCloud Tabs and Siri Suggestions so they can be easily accessed.

Tabs are also being redesigned, you’ll be able to see more tabs onscreen and they will display favicons by default. But to make it easy to identify open tabs you’ll be able to see a quick preview of a page by simply hovering over the tab. One of our Wishlist requests was that Pinned Tabs would get their own bar as ours take up so much room that we don’t have enough space for tabs. This should be a more space-efficient design.

BIG SUR SAFARI PREVIEW

And built-in translation - Safari’s ability to translate entire webpages into your own language (from seven languages) - will make navigating the web much easier if you frequently find yourself on webpages in other languages. We love that this will mean it’s no longer necessary to pop over to Google Translate to find out what a page says. Apple say you will be able to click on the translate option to see it in your own language - and it will translate in real time even if text on the page is updated.

Extensions are also getting some attention in Big Sur and they will get their own section in the Mac App Store.

And, with privacy and security in mind, users will be able to choose when and which websites a Safari extension can work with.

Continuing the privacy theme you will be able to see a Privacy Report for each website you visit. You’ll also see a new weekly Privacy Report on your start page that will show what Safari has been protecting you from while browsing.

One other privacy-first feature is a new data breach password monitoring feature that should mean your password information is never revealed - and if it is Apple will let you know and help you upgrade them.

BIG SUR SAFARI

Messages

Messages is one of the latest apps to be ported from iOS to the Mac thanks to Mac Catalyst, the tools Apple introduced back in 2019 to make it easier to bring iPad apps to the Mac. AS a result Messages finally gets the full set of iOS features - and all the new features that are coming in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. Those new features include:

The ability to Pin conversations that you want to keep at the top of the window (similar to how we can currently Pin Notes to the top of the screen)

The ability to create an image to represent your group including icons for those involved

A handy feature if you are in a group text - you will be able to send inline replies. So you can reply to a particular comment rather than adding your comment to the bottom of the pile.

If you want to make sure that someone does’t miss your message you can 'mention' them - simply type their name - and they will see an alert.

You can also set it so you are only notified if you are mentioned.

Other features from the iOS app will arrive including Memoji design tools (with the addition of 20 new hair and headwear - including Masks. And there will be three new Memoji stickers, including a fist bump.

There are lots more features coming to Messages, and of course the existing features like being able to add fun elements like balloons and confetti to texts.

Maps

Apple’s Maps app is also getting the Catalyst treatment so it should be more iOS like when Big Sur launches.

This means that Maps on the Mac will gain the new Maps features coming in iOS 13 and iPadOS14, including the arrival of the new-style Maps to the UK, which includes features like a 360-degree view of a destination with Look Around.

Maps has a focus on "Helping you get there in a way that’s better for the planet", so you can expect to see cycling directions, routing to help you get to somewhere to charge your electric vehicle.

BIS SUR MAPS

We should also see guides - from trusted resources and also ones made by users. Apple says you will be able to create custom guides of favourite restaurants, parks, and vacation spots that can be shared with friends and family.

You’ll also be able to browse detailed indoor maps of major airports and shopping centres.

Privacy

We already mentioned some of the privacy features coming to the Mac in Safari, but as you would expect, there is more.

Apple says that it was inspired by the convenience and readability of food nutrition labels to create a new way of indicating what information is required by Mac App Store apps. For example, you’ll be able to see if an app collects usage data, contact information, or location data and whether it shares it with third parties. This will help users understand the privacy practices of apps before downloading them, says Apple.

Apple's macOS 11 Big Sur marks the end of OS X, not the Mac

Apple's slickly produced WWDC20 keynote didn't directly emphasize it, but the new macOS Big Sur that will ship to the public this fall is officially "macOS 11," marking an end to the twenty-year progression of "Mac OS X" branding. But don't worry, it's not the end of the Mac.

Turn it up to 11

Apple's first beta of macOS Big Sur was made available to developer program members with the version designation of "10.16," which is what one might expect from the successor to last year's Mac OS 10.15 Catalina. But Apple likes to switch things up and keep things interesting.

Big Sur beta

The Big Sur beta was originally called 10.16

In this case, the move to macOS 11 was a subtle reveal. Speaking from the hands-on area of the Steve Jobs Theater during the WWDC20 keynote, Apple's head of software Craig Federighi showed screenshots that indicated the new release was finally pushing past the big "X" that has defined the Mac experience for 20 years.

Apple's fresh 2020 update to its developer Human Interface Guidelines now consistently refers to Big Sur as "macOS 11," rather than being another incremented version of the "Mac OS X" brand that first shipped as a public beta in 2000 and as an initial "Mac OS X 10.0" public release in 2001.

Across the last two decades, Apple has released major new versions of its modern OS for the Mac at regular intervals. Since 2016, it has deemphasized the Roman numeral "X," shifting its marketing name to simply "macOS." It has also increasingly capitalized on its annually changing "code name" assigned to each release — first big cats, then places in California — relegating the actual version number increasingly out of prominent view.

The move beyond "X" to 11 may seem concerningly ominous, but it really just reflects a series of moves Apple has made to better align its work on the Mac desktop with its mobile platforms. After 14 years of iOS releases, we are now getting a simple, streamlined annual version number for the Mac as well.

The Mac isn't going away, it's catching up

A number of observers have suggested that Apple is losing its interest in the Mac platform, and fear that Apple is making plans to replace its 35-year-old, conventional computing platform with, effectively, a scaled-up version of iPadOS. They cite developments such as Catalyst, which helps developers bring their existing OS code to the Mac, or the new move to Apple Silicon Macs, which will enable future hardware to run iOS software without any modification.

Some have pointed to the new UI refinements in Big Sur that look like a modern departure from the traditional Mac appearance with its squared panels, rigid alignments, and more dramatic contrasting of dark monochrome regions. The default Big Sur desktop in the first beta makes the new, updated appearance took particularly radical due to its use of intense colors (below). Is this the end of the beloved Macintosh? Is it becoming "just a big iPod touch"?

Big Sur beta desktop

Change the default wallpaper (above) to the photo of California's Big Sur (top) and the whole thing looks less foreign and garish

I don't think so. Instead, I think the changes Apple is making to the Mac are in the right direction, even if they do touch that part of the brain that incites fear and concern simply because things are new, different, and slightly less familiar. There are some transition issues and rough edges— like the brand new Battery panel that replaces the confusing old mess of "Energy Saver"— but this is the first developer beta. Things are still in flux and changes are being hammered out.

Big Sur Battery panel

Did Apple hire Google's emoji team to draw up this weird condom battery?

Rather than being disgruntled that some things on the Mac are changing and — horrors! — reflecting the work Apple's already done for iPadOS, it's useful to look at things from the other direction. For years, the Mac has received less of Apple's attention and resources simply because the market opportunities afforded by iPhones and iPad were vastly larger.

Over the last decade, the work needed to deliver leading smartphone and tablet technology was urgent, while the Mac mostly just needed refinements to keep it comfortably competitive with commodity PCs and netbooks. Three years ago, Apple was consumed with reinventing iPhone X, and since then it has focused on differentiating and radically enhancing its "new" iPadOS platform.

Back to the Mac

The new Big Sur borrows a series of familiar, functional improvements from Apple's years of work that focused on iOS. One great example is the new Control Center, which brings the same clean, intuitive, configurable layout of quick settings to the Mac.

Control Center in Big Sur

Big Sur's new iOS-inspired Control Center is beautiful and brilliant

One of Apple's biggest efforts in last year's macOS Catalina was to break up its monolithic iTunes into a series of modern, streamlined apps, reflecting how things worked under iOS. In our review of Catalina, one of the problems we noted was the increasing lack of visual and user interface consistency across its various bundled apps, a gap that kept growing as batches of new apps with their own fresh interface style erupted with each new release.

Certain older apps looked like they were stuck in different points of the past because they literally were. As Apple's internal development tools kept changing over the years, some of the oldest code remained difficult to modernize or harmonize with the rest of the system.

Instead of spending the last couple years working to bring various old macOS components up to date with the Mojave appearance, Apple instead began charting out a much bolder and material leap: a jump to its own Apple Silicon at the lowest layer of the stack, as well as a radical new approach to building high-level appearance and behavior in the new Swift UI. In tandem, Apple also introduced Catalyst as a way to bring existing iOS code to the Mac.

All three represent huge investments in enhancing the Mac platform and preparing it for the future. They expand the library of software that Macs can run while transferring and adapting some of the tremendously valuable UI work already performed for mobile devices to desktop Mac systems tuned to handle larger and more complex tasks. These changes actually make the Mac more commercially relevant and a stronger platform.

Critics have fixated on niggling appearance issues in the initial Catalyst apps and worried that the cherished Mac look and feel was going away. The truth is: it is. The Mac is increasingly modernizing, leveraging new, more flexible code that supports features ranging from accessibility and internationalization to Dark Mode. Mac stalwarts might be tempted to blame the iPad or iOS, but the real force for change is Swift UI, Catalyst, Symbols, and other modern UI techniques and technology that simply appeared on iPad and iPhone first because they were receiving the most attention from Apple.

Apple Music Big Sur

Big Sur borrows tech from iOS, such as Symbols, to enhance the Mac and make it more consistent

It's fine to critically examine the visual changes Apple is introducing in Big Sur, but consider evaluating these as inherently positive changes that are not yet finalized. The impact of Big Sur changes may seem more radical simply because they are more consistently applied across the entire macOS than in previous releases. That in itself indicates that rather than just being an arbitrary "new look" for new apps, the changes are a more fundamental rethinking of how to keep software modern and maintainable, and therefore more consistent.

At WWDC20, Apple has devoted a lot of work to show developers how they can leverage the latest tools, particularly Swift UI, to create clean app interfaces that are uncluttered, consistent, and intuitive to use, while also supporting modern functionality and being prepared to adapt to future OS features as they are delivered.