macOS Tahoe Beta 4: What’s New in This Release?
Apple’s fourth beta iteration focuses on stabilization and feature refinement. The troublesome Safari tab highlighting issue from Beta 2—where inactive tabs appeared more prominent than active ones—has been fully resolved according to developer reports. Spotlight receives substantial under-the-hood improvements, now indexing all local content while introducing new AI-powered functions like document summarization and image creation. The clipboard history feature, which archives copied items throughout the day, now operates with significantly reduced memory footprint.
Continuity enhancements remain central to Tahoe’s vision. Users gain:
- Native Phone app functionality
- Journal app integration
- Live Activities notifications mirroring iOS
- Advanced call management for spam filtering
- Real-time Live Translation across apps
Apple Intelligence features see notable upgrades too. Image Playground now generates higher-resolution visuals, while Genmoji responds to more nuanced descriptive prompts. Deeper ChatGPT integration allows seamless AI model switching within apps like Mail and Notes.
The End of an Era: Intel Macs and macOS Tahoe
Quietly embedded in Tahoe’s release notes is a historic transition: macOS 27 will exclusively support Apple Silicon chips. This makes Tahoe the final feature-rich update for Intel-based Macs, effectively concluding their 16-year architectural run. While Apple will provide security patches through 2026, the message is clear—the future is Silicon.
Industry analysts see this as strategic timing. Apple is reportedly developing redesigned MacBook Pros featuring OLED displays for late 2026. By sunsetting Intel support now, the company creates natural upgrade momentum toward these next-generation devices. Developers are already noticing subtle optimizations in Beta 4 that favor M-series chips, particularly in machine learning tasks.
How to Download and Install macOS Tahoe Beta 4
Registered Apple developers can access Beta 4 through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings. Installation requires:
- Enrollment in the Apple Developer Program
- Backup of critical data using Time Machine
- Minimum 15GB storage space
- Compatible 2018-or-later Intel Mac or any Apple Silicon model
Public beta testers will gain access in approximately two weeks following developer feedback analysis. Early adopters should note that while Beta 4 shows improved stability over previous versions, some third-party apps—particularly utilities relying on kernel extensions—may exhibit unexpected behavior.
As macOS Tahoe Beta 4 brings Apple’s ecosystem integration vision into sharper focus, it simultaneously draws the curtain on the Intel Mac era. For developers and enthusiasts, this release offers a glimpse into a unified computing future—but also signals the sunset for millions of legacy machines. Test these transformative features responsibly through Apple’s developer channels, and prepare your upgrade path as the Apple Silicon transition reaches its final stage.
Must Know
Q: What distinguishes macOS Tahoe from previous versions?
A: Tahoe introduces system-wide Liquid Glass design language, iPhone-style apps (Phone, Journal), Live Activities notifications, and deeper Apple Intelligence integration. Spotlight becomes a powerful AI assistant with content creation tools, fundamentally changing how users interact with their Macs.
Q: Can Intel Mac users install future updates after Tahoe?
A: No. Apple confirmed macOS 27 (2026) will require Apple Silicon chips. Intel Macs will only receive critical security patches through 2026 before becoming obsolete for new OS versions.
Q: How stable is Beta 4 for daily use?
A: While significantly improved from earlier betas, Apple still classifies this as “developer-only” software. Avoid installing it on primary work machines. Key apps like Safari now function reliably, but some third-party software remains incompatible.
Q: When will macOS Tahoe officially launch?
A: Based on Apple’s typical schedule, expect the public release in October 2025 alongside new Mac hardware. The current beta phase suggests core features are now feature-locked, with remaining work focused on optimization.
Q: Does Tahoe’s Spotlight indexing compromise privacy?
A: Apple states all indexing occurs on-device. The new clipboard history is end-to-end encrypted and automatically purged daily unless users manually save items. Content analysis for summarization features uses Apple’s Private Cloud Compute system.
Q: What happens to Intel Macs after support ends?
A: They’ll continue functioning but won’t receive feature updates. Industry data shows Intel Macs typically have 3-5 years of post-support usability for basic tasks, though security risks gradually increase. Recycling programs like Apple’s Trade In offer upgrade paths.
