macOS Sonoma: Features, Compatibility, and Everything You Need to Know
Apple’s macOS Sonoma is the next major software update for Mac, bringing a range of new productivity tools, visual enhancements, gaming improvements, and app upgrades. The update officially launches on September 26 and introduces several features designed to make the Mac experience more interactive and personalized.
What’s New in macOS Sonoma
macOS Sonoma focuses heavily on desktop customization, communication upgrades, gaming performance, and Safari improvements.
Desktop Widgets
One of the biggest additions in macOS Sonoma is support for interactive desktop widgets.
Widgets can now be placed directly on the desktop instead of being limited to Notification Center. They intelligently blend into the wallpaper and fade into the background while working so they remain less distracting.
Thanks to Apple’s Continuity features, users can also access iPhone widgets directly on their Mac without needing separate Mac versions of those apps.
New Screensavers
macOS Sonoma introduces beautiful new aerial screensavers similar to those used on Apple TV.
These high-quality animated videos showcase landscapes, cities, and underwater scenes from around the world and transition seamlessly into the desktop wallpaper after login.
Video Conferencing Enhancements
Apple added several improvements for video calls and presentations.
Presenter Overlay
Presenter Overlay allows users to appear in front of shared content during screen sharing sessions, creating a more immersive presentation experience.
Reactions
New gesture-based reactions let users trigger on-screen visual effects during video calls, including:
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Hearts
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Fireworks
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Balloons
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Confetti
Improved Screen Sharing
Apple also simplified the screen sharing process, making it easier to share windows or applications during meetings.
Safari Improvements
Safari receives several major upgrades in macOS Sonoma.
Enhanced Private Browsing
Private Browsing now includes stronger protection against:
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Trackers
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Fingerprinting
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Unauthorized access by others using the device
Private windows can also automatically lock when not in use.
Safari Profiles
Safari Profiles allow users to separate browsing environments for different purposes such as:
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Work
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Personal browsing
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School
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Travel
Each profile maintains its own:
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Cookies
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Extensions
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Tab groups
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Favorites
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History
Web Apps
Users can now turn websites into standalone web apps that function similarly to native Mac applications.
Web apps can:
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Appear in the Dock
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Open in separate windows
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Send notifications
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Launch independently from Safari
Game Mode
Apple introduced a dedicated Game Mode in macOS Sonoma aimed at improving gaming performance on Mac.
Game Mode Features
Game Mode prioritizes system resources for games by optimizing:
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CPU performance
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GPU performance
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Frame rate consistency
Apple also reduced:
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Audio latency with AirPods
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Controller input latency
The feature works automatically with supported games and helps deliver a smoother gaming experience overall.
macOS Sonoma Compatibility
macOS Sonoma drops support for several older Intel-based Macs.
Macs No Longer Supported
The following devices cannot run macOS Sonoma:
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2017 MacBook Pro
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2017 iMac
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2017 12-inch MacBook
Compatible Mac Models
macOS Sonoma supports the following Macs:
MacBook Pro
- 2018 and later
MacBook Air
- 2018 and later
Mac mini
- 2018 and later
iMac
- 2019 and later
iMac Pro
- 2017
Mac Studio
- 2022 and later
Mac Pro
- 2019 and later
How to Check Your Mac Model
If you’re unsure whether your Mac supports macOS Sonoma, you can quickly check your model information:
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Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner
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Select About This Mac
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View your Mac model and release year in the window that appears
Safari 17 Without Upgrading to Sonoma
Users who don’t want to upgrade fully to macOS Sonoma can still access many of Safari’s newest features.
Safari 17 will also be available separately for:
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macOS Monterey
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macOS Ventura
This allows users to try the latest Safari improvements without installing the full Sonoma update.
Final Thoughts
macOS Sonoma delivers a polished collection of upgrades focused on customization, communication, and performance. Features like interactive desktop widgets, Safari Profiles, enhanced video conferencing tools, and Game Mode make the Mac experience more flexible and modern.
While the update doesn’t radically redesign macOS, it introduces many quality-of-life improvements that make everyday tasks smoother and more enjoyable across both productivity and entertainment.