Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

MacOS Big Sur will be coming to a Mac near you on November 12

Matthew S. Smith
Arif Bacchus
By and

Apple has announced a November 12 launch for its latest version of MacOS, called Big Sur. It’s the 17th major update to MacOS, the operating system formerly known as OS X.

MacOS Big Sur brings a variety of minor tweaks alongside a major revision to the look and the feel of MacOS, which once again is receiving a new coat of paint to keep Apple’s design consistent across its devices. Big Sur presents a flatter look that’s more consistent with iOS. It also updates many icons and menus to a look that is familiar to iPhone and iPad owners.

Recommended Videos

In addition, MacOS Big Sur is heavily optimized for Apple’s custom ARM-based silicon, the M1 chip. For devices with the M1 chip, the operating system delivers improvements that make Safari 1.5 times faster, and 1.9 times more responsive.

Related

But it’s not all about the M1 chip. Big Sur also makes an effort to improve usability, with a focus on applications and services that are available across Mac, iPad, and iPhone. The Messages app, for example, is getting a major overall that brings in features previously reserved for iOS. The Photos app has been updated to look more like the iPadOS version while adding functionality for Mac users. And the notification center is getting a major overhaul that, once again, looks similar to iOS, but also adds new options.

You should be able to download MacOS Big Sur on Thursday, November 12 on the Mac App Store. The delivery of the new operating system is usually gradual, however, with not all users receiving access to the update at the same time. If you don’t see the update immediately, you’ll simply have to wait — perhaps for awhile. It’s not unusual for some users to see an update several days after it’s officially released.

Check out our roundup of Big Sur’s best features for more, as well as our guide to downloading MacOS Big Sur.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…
The 6 best ways Macs work with your other Apple devices
A person holds an iPhone in front of a MacBook.

One of the best things about using more than one Apple device is the way they interact with each other. Apple has built all kinds of clever features into its famous ecosystem, and it means your devices all work together in a way that you just don’t get from any other manufacturer.

AirDrop might be the ultimate expression of this, though that's fairly well-known. Here, we’ve picked out six other great ways your Mac works with other Apple products. Most require you to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, as well as for you to be using the same Apple ID on all your devices. Check the System Settings app on your devices to make sure the specific features are enabled, although most should be by default.

Read more
I never knew I needed this mini Mac app, but now I can’t live without it
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

Switching apps is something I do countless times every day on my Mac, so much so that I don’t ever think anything of it. That is until recently, when I discovered a new app that has me flipping windows in a new (and much-improved) way.

That app is called Quick Tab, and it’s designed to make app switching a little more painless. Now, I’ll admit that I’ve never thought of the traditional Command-Tab key combination as all that painful, but Quick Tab has swiftly shown me what I’ve been missing.

Read more
The MacBook Pro is a good enough gaming laptop for me
Halo running on a MacBook Pro.

I'm not a hardcore gamer. But like a lot of people, I like to dabble here and there. Looking at my limited Steam account, I find a handful of remotely current titles I've enjoyed lately, including Baldur's Gate 3 and Civilization VI.

When I fully converted to a MacBook Pro from Windows, I didn't expect to have even my limited gaming needs met. I figured it would just be something I'd lose in the transition. To my surprise, I've found myself quite enjoying the experience of gaming on my M3 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch. It won't be enough to satisfy gamers, but it was enough to get me excited for the future of gaming on the Mac.
Where the Metal meets the microchip

Read more