macOS Sonoma: Features, launch date, and supported Macs

macOS Sonoma comes with dedicated gaming mode and it also offers low latency mode for AirPods.

macOS Sonoma comes with dedicated gaming mode (Image credit: Apple)

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Apple unveiled the next-generation Mac operating system—macOS Sonoma with new personalisation features at WWDC 2023. This includes support for iPhone widgets, new screensavers and it is also the first macOS that emphasises gaming.

While Macs were never known for their gaming prowess, Apple wants to change this with macOS Sonoma, which is now optimised to run demanding games with the help of Metal 3 API. macOS Sonoma comes with a dedicated gaming mode optimised to offer the best performance by setting the highest priority to CPU and GPU. It also reduces audio latency on AirPods and allows users to pair an Xbox or PlayStation controller with a Mac to further elevate the gaming experience on a Mac. Titles like Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Resident Evil Village: Winter’s Expansion, and Disney Dreamlight Valley will be coming to Macs.

macOS Sonoma also introduces some nifty new features like interactive widgets, where users can place multiple widgets on the desktop. They now seamlessly blend with wallpapers, and macOS Sonoma supports all iPhone widgets.

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The update also adds new video conferencing features, such as Presenter Overlay. This feature displays an overlay on top of the presentation and works even on third-party apps like Zoom. The new macOS also features a new and improved Safari web browser, which now supports profiles and a private browsing window that automatically locks the browser when the user is away from the device.

Developers can get access to macOS Sonoma starting today and the public beta will be released in July.

Macs compatible with macOS Sonoma:

iMac Pro (2017) (Intel)
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) (Intel)
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) (Intel)
iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) (Intel)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019) (Intel)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) (Intel)
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) (Intel)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1, 2021)
MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1, 2021)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2, 2023)
MacBook Pro (14-inch,M2, 2023)
Mac Pro (Rack, 2019)
Mac Pro (2019)
Mac Pro (M2)
Mac Studio
Mac mini (2018)
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
Mac mini (M2, 2023)