macOS 14 Sonoma Review: What's New, Features, and Is It Worth Installing? / ITech content

Table of Contents:

• What is Sonoma
• Who can upgrade?
• Desktop
• Safari
• Documents and Notes
• Keyboard
• Games
• Calls and Conferences
• Should I upgrade?

Apple announced macOS 14 Sonoma in June 2023 at the WWDC conference. The summer was dedicated to user testing of the new operating system, and on September 26th, the stable version was released to a wider audience. The update features numerous visual changes and new tools that challenge the notion that Macs aren't designed for gaming. This version of macOS opens up new possibilities for users, improving performance and expanding the system's functionality.

What is Sonoma

The first version of macOS was released in the spring of 2001. Initially, Apple used names inspired by members of the feline family, such as lions, panthers, tigers, and cougars. However, in 2013, the company realized that macOS had become a significant and long-term project, and it began to run out of naming ideas. From that point on, each new operating system update was named after a California location, emphasizing the company's connection to its homeland and the diversity of its natural landscapes.

The fourteenth version of macOS, named Sonoma, is inspired by Sonoma County, located in northern California. This region is known as the center of American winemaking and a historically significant location for the Russian-American Company. In 1812, a Russian colony was founded on the Sonoma coast, centered at Fort Ross, where agriculture and food production flourished for Alaskan explorers. The Sonoma name not only reflects the region's cultural heritage but also symbolizes Apple's commitment to innovation and quality.

Andrei Viktorovich Chelishchev, the son of a Kaluga landowner and the founder of American winemaking, worked in Sonoma County. In 1938, he received an invitation to work in the United States, where he quickly transformed an unremarkable town into a center of high-quality wine production. It was in Sonoma that the famous photograph was taken, which became the cover photo for Windows XP, which added to the popularity of this region. Chelishchev had a significant influence on the development of wine culture in the United States, bringing Sonoma to prominence on the international stage.

Who can upgrade?

Apple is gradually ending support for its computers running Intel processors. Currently, some features are available exclusively on Apple Silicon chips. In the coming years, updates for older devices will no longer be released, which highlights the company's transition to its own processors. This decision strengthens Apple's position in the market and opens up new opportunities for users who choose modern devices with Apple Silicon.

This year, macOS Sonoma is compatible with the following Mac computer models:

• MacBook Pro - 2018 and later;
• MacBook Air - 2018 and later;
• Mac mini - 2018 and later;
• iMac - 2019 and later;
• iMac Pro - 2017 and later;
• Mac Pro - 2019 and later;
• Mac Studio - 2022 and later.

If the official update is not possible, but you want to improve your system, we recommend using the OpenCore Legacy Patcher utility. This program allows you to restore drivers removed by Apple to the operating system, improving compatibility with older devices. While some features may still be unavailable, the developers are actively working to restore them so users can get the most out of their devices.

Using OpenCore Legacy Patcher, you can install the macOS Sonoma update on a range of legacy devices. This tool allows users with older Mac models to access the latest operating system features and improvements. OpenCore Legacy Patcher ensures compatibility and simplifies the installation process, making it ideal for those who want to extend the life of their device and enjoy the new features of macOS Sonoma.

• MacBook Pro — 2008 to 2017;
• MacBook Air — 2008 to 2019;
• Mac mini — 2009 to 2017;
• iMac — 2017 to 2018;
• Mac Pro — 2008 to 2018.

Desktop

In macOS Sonoma, the desktop is a key focus. The new version of the operating system introduces innovative features and also brings popular elements from iOS. Additionally, the developers have completely redesigned existing tools that already served their purpose well.

• Lock screen: The clock and current date are now centered. The username, avatar, and password entry field have been moved to the bottom of the screen. It looks minimalistic and effective, since previously there was no clock and it could only be installed as a screensaver.

• Live wallpapers. Sonoma supports live wallpapers of short, looping videos. When the Mac is locked, the video plays, and when unlocked, the image slows down and turns into a static wallpaper. More than 130 live wallpapers are available in the categories "Nature," "Cities," "Underwater," and "Planet Earth."
• Desktop widgets. Previously, widgets could only be placed in the sidebar, but Apple has now moved them to the desktop. You can also use widgets from iOS if the developer hasn't created a native version for macOS. Widgets also become translucent if there is an active window on the desktop.

Safari

Many users underestimate Safari, considering it an outdated browser. However, macOS Sonoma introduced useful new features that significantly improve the user experience. These updates make Safari more modern and competitive among other popular browsers. Improved performance, new tab management tools, and enhanced security measures make Safari an attractive choice for macOS users. This browser is not worth ignoring, especially given its latest updates and features.

• Profiles. The browser now features profiles for different users and usage scenarios. For example, if two people use one Mac, you can create separate Safari profiles for them to avoid mixing tabs and bookmarks. In addition, a new feature allows you to separate your activities by creating separate profiles for work and play, preventing distractions. You can manage profiles in Safari preferences. Icon sets and a color palette are available for customization.

• Progressive Web Apps. iOS 11.3 added support for PWAs—progressive web apps—which allow a website to be turned into a fully-fledged app with an icon and push notifications. Essentially, the website code is downloaded to the device's memory and executed autonomously in the browser. This feature has now been added to macOS. In this case, the website appears in the Dock and Launchpad, but opens in a separate window. This is an especially useful feature if the website's developers aren't developing a separate app for macOS. In Sonoma, you can turn a website into an app using the "Add to Dock" option in the "File" tab.

• "Private access" with a password. Incognito tabs are now password protected. For example, if you lock your Mac with such a tab open, you'll need to enter your password or use Touch ID to resume browsing.

Documents and Notes

Sonoma offers convenient features for efficiently working with documents, notes, and forms. The platform offers an intuitive interface, allowing users to quickly create and edit text materials. Note organization features help organize information and easily find the data you need. Sonoma also provides tools for working with forms, simplifying the collection and processing of information. These features make Sonoma an excellent choice for users who value convenience and efficiency in working with documents.

• Export notes to Pages. Any notes from the native app can be transferred to the Pages text editor. This is convenient if you start taking notes on something and then transfer it for full formatting and preparation for printing.

• PDF files in Notes. Notes can now be used to view PDFs. The file opens in the app and remains there. This allows you to save documents on the fly for viewing on an iPad or iPhone.

• Automatic form detection. The default PDF viewer in macOS now recognizes forms. For example, if you open a form, you can fill out its fields on your computer without first printing the file. In addition, the system can detect field types: strings, checkboxes, addresses, or dates.

• 3D objects in documents. All Apple Office applications (Keynote, Pages, and Number) now support the USDZ format. You can insert 3D objects into documents, change their position, and add effects.

Keyboard

If you have multiple keyboard layouts installed on your Mac, which is quite likely, you'll find the updates in Sonoma very helpful. These updates provide more convenient and intuitive access to switching between different layouts, significantly improving the user experience. Now, typing will be more efficient and comfortable, which is especially important for users working with multiple languages. Updates in Sonoma will help optimize the keyboard and simplify interaction with the device.

• Language indication. When entering text in a field, an icon with the selected layout is now displayed. This will prevent accidental typing of characters in a different language. In addition, a Caps Lock icon has been added. But there is also a downside: they removed the old animation that was displayed in the center of the screen, so you need to look up at the menu bar to see the active layout.

Games

Since the release of the first MacBook with the M1 chip, Apple has been actively demonstrating that its devices can support serious AAA games. The new version of the Sonoma operating system has introduced a system for porting games from Windows, as well as an optimized processor mode, which significantly improves gaming performance. These innovations highlight Apple's commitment to expanding the gaming capabilities of its computers, offering users access to a wider range of games.

• Game Porting Tool. At WWDC23, the Game Porting Tool was unveiled—a tool that simplifies the process of porting Windows games to macOS. Sonoma made the utility available to everyone, but it's difficult to navigate without specialized knowledge. Third-party developers have released apps for easy use, the most popular of which is Whisky. With its help, you can already run GTA 5, Diablo 4, Cyberpunk 2077, God of War and other popular games.

• Game Mode. This is enabled automatically when you launch a game. It will prioritize computing power, increasing frame rates. You can tell that your Mac is in gaming mode by the icon in the menu bar.

Calls and Conferences

The webcam update for video calls has become one of the most discussed new features. This decision raised many questions, as users did not expect such a change and did not request its implementation. However, Apple decided that the time had come to implement this feature in its products.

• Interactive reactions. FaceTime and other video calling apps now feature animated reactions that respond to gestures. For example, if you show two thumbs up, fireworks will appear in the background, and if you show two thumbs down, it will rain.

• Advanced presentations. Presence mode will now be enabled when showing presentations in Zoom, Google Meet, and other services. For example, if the user is clearly visible in the frame, macOS will move them to the foreground and place the presentation itself in the background.

Should I upgrade?

macOS Sonoma doesn't offer any revolutionary features that will radically change the user experience. This version of the operating system primarily includes cosmetic updates and minor improvements. Therefore, if you decide to skip this update, you won't lose any significant features or functionality.

The system operates stably and has no critical bugs. However, sometimes you may notice slight stuttering of live wallpapers on an external display in standby mode, creating the impression that the screen refresh rate has dropped to 10 frames per second. Otherwise, there are no serious glitches. Updating is possible, but it's important to keep in mind that high stability and full support for all features are guaranteed only for Macs with Apple Silicon processors.

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