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macOS 16 rumors: What to expect at WWDC25

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The next major macOS release could pack bigger changes than anticipated.
Illustration: ChatGPT

WWDC25 is nearly here, with iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 possibly set to steal the spotlight. However, the latest rumors indicate you shouldn’t count macOS 16 out just yet, as it might bring more upgrades than expected. It might not even be called macOS 16, if Apple’s rumored switch to year-based release names happens. (We’ll refer to it as macOS 16 until the big switch happens.)

With June 9 fast approaching, here’s a breakdown of what macOS 16 could bring to the table.

What to expect from macOS 16 (or 26) at WWDC25

Since its inception more than two decades ago, macOS has evolved from the glossy, skeuomorphic look of Apple’s Aqua design language in 2000 to the clean minimalism of macOS Big Sur in 2020, shaping how millions of people work and create on their Macs.

Recent updates largely focused on refinement, but Apple appears poised to make a bold leap with its next major macOS release. As WWDC25 approaches, whispers of a sweeping, visionOS-inspired redesign, a possible rebranding of the versioning system, and the symbolic choice of “macOS Tahoe” for this year’s release suggest that the Mac’s software is heading into a new era.

Rumors indicate macOS 16 will harmonize even more closely with Apple’s broader ecosystem, both visually and functionally.

visionOS-like redesign

Apple last gave macOS a big design overhaul with Big Sur. This year, the company plans a visionOS-inspired design refresh to all its operating systems, including macOS 16, for a more consistent visual experience across devices. A Bloomberg report said the revamp will “fundamentally change the look of the operating systems.”

visionOS, the operating system that powers Apple’s Vision Pro headset, features a sleek, glasslike UI and updated app icons. Mimicking that should give macOS 16 a more modern and polished appearance. As part of the design overhaul, Apple reportedly will update the icons, menu, apps, windows and other aspects of the Mac user interface.

Stage Manager 2.0

Apple could unveil a revamped Stage Manager for multitasking on the iPad with iPadOS 19 at WWDC25. Apparently, the changes will make “managing apps and windows smoother and more productive than ever.” Given that macOS packs the same feature, you can expect the Stage Manager implementation on the Mac to receive some much-needed enhancements.

A new versioning system

Last year’s macOS Sequoia marked the 15th major release of Apple’s desktop operating system. Logically, the next major release should carry the version number 16. However, that might not happen. An explosive report suggests Apple might switch the naming scheme of its operating systems this year, moving to a year-based convention instead.

So, instead of macOS 16, the company could unveil macOS 26 at WWDC25. Likewise, instead of iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, we might get iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. This move would bring consistency, as all Apple operating systems would carry the same version number.

New rumor indicates macOS 16 (or 26) will be called ‘Tahoe’

Over the past few years, Apple’s marketing team has named macOS releases after notable locations in California, often reflecting the scale of the update. With the next macOS version expected to debut a visionOS-inspired UI overhaul, Apple appears to have chosen Lake Tahoe as its inspiration. The company could market the upcoming release as macOS Tahoe.

“The deep blue lake is also known to show the reflection of the sky and surrounding mountains — something that flicks at the striking visuals of the new user interface,” wrote Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter.

Drop support for older Intel Macs

Another rumor indicates macOS 16 might drop support for several older Intel-based Macs, including the 2018 MacBook Pros and the iMac Pro. An AppleInsider report says that going forward, Apple will only support Intel Macs launched in 2019 or later, discontinuing support for all previous models. This would mean macOS 16 would support only the 2019 Mac Pro, 2019 MacBook Pro and the 2020 iMac, alongside all M1 and newer Apple silicon-powered Macs.

No major Apple Intelligence improvements

The highlight of last year’s WWDC, Apple Intelligence failed to live up to its promise. Despite all the hype that Apple’s marketing team built around it, the company’s AI efforts fell short, severely lagging its competitors. And that’s just for the features that actually arrived. Others, like an AI-powered Siri upgrade, remain AWOL.

Sadly, you shouldn’t expect macOS 16 to introduce any major AI features, including that smarter Siri, which Apple promised at WWDC24 last June.

The company pulled out the big guns to fix Siri and Apple Intelligence, with a major internal reorganization. Mike Rockwell, who led Vision Pro development, is now tasked with revamping Siri. However, his team’s efforts will take time to show results.

Until then, Apple likely won’t have anything major to show on the AI and Siri front. This year’s rumored Apple Intelligence updates that will apply to macOS 16 include AI-generated Shortcuts automations and an API for developers that would let them tap into Apple Intelligence’s foundation models in their apps.

macOS 16 rumors become reality at WWDC25

Apple will take the wraps off the next version of macOS at its opening keynote of WWDC25 on June 9. Developer betas usually drop right after the event, so you should be able to try macOS 16 on your Mac if you’re feeling adventurous. Public beta builds usually drop a few weeks later.

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