Get Ready: Will Your Mac Support macOS 14 Sonoma?

With the passing of each year comes a free major update to macOS, available as a free download sometime in the fall. macOS 14 Sonoma comes with some nice new features.

Compatible With Apple Silicon and Some Intel Macs

While Apple has made the switch to Apple Silicon for its entire Mac lineup, including the highly anticipated M2 Ultra Mac Pro, macOS 14 Sonoma will still offer support for select Intel Mac models. Along with providing support for all Apple Silicon models with an M1 chip or greater, macOS 14 Sonoma will also extend support to the 2019 iMac, 2017 Mac Pro, 2017 iMac Pro, 2018 MacBook Air, 2018 MacBook Pro, and 2018 Mac mini, as well as newer models. To determine the model and year of release for your Mac, simply click the Apple logo at the top-left of your screen, followed by the "About This Mac" option, which will display the information in a window on your desktop.

The latest macOS 14 release sets the new cutoff point for older Mac models at 2017. As a result, the 2017 and 2018 iMac, 2017 MacBook Pro, and all models of the MacBook range will no longer be supported. These models were previously supported in macOS 13 Ventura. However, if your Mac is no longer supported, you will still receive limited security updates and may even be able to install macOS 14 Sonoma on your unsupported Mac post-update.

Some Features Will Require Apple Silicon

Not every feature of macOS 14 will be compatible with every Mac model, similar to how it was with macOS Ventura. Although you may be able to run macOS 14 on your Mac, it doesn't guarantee access to all of the new features. However, you can expect significant updates to essential applications like Safari, Messages, and improvements to services such as FaceTime.

Intel Mac models lack some notable features that are available on Apple Silicon models. For instance, the Presenter Overlay video conferencing mode is absent on Intel Mac models. This feature enables users to share their screen and overlay their webcam image simultaneously. Additionally, Intel Mac models do not support hand gesture reactions, a feature that is available on Apple Silicon models. Other features that are limited to Apple Silicon models include the Game Mode, which prioritizes the game being played on the CPU and GPU, reduces latency when using AirPods and Bluetooth controllers, and the Personal Voice accessibility feature, which allows modern Apple devices to mimic the user's voice.

Coming as a Free Update in Fall 2023

macOS 13 Ventura was released on October 24, 2022. This continues Apple’s usual tactic of releasing its annual Mac software update once the iPhone update is out of the door.

Check out the standout macOS 14 Sonoma features coming to your compatible Mac in the fall. Got an iPhone or iPad? Get the lowdown on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 too.