The next big software update for Apple’s Mac, called macOS Sonoma, is now available through the company’s public beta program. This means that if you have a MacBook or Mac desktop that is compatible, you can download and install the unfinished software. However, it is recommended that you wait until Apple releases the stable build.

Well, we have been testing the beta build of macOS Sonoma for a week now, and there are many exciting new features to look forward to when Sonoma officially launches later this year. So, here is a preview of what you can expect when Sonoma releases for all.
It’s all about widgets

macOS Sonoma revamps how widgets are used and interacted with on a Mac. So, widgets provide brief and now interactive data about an app or service. Until now, they could only be placed in the notification centre. In Sonoma, you can place widgets directly on your desktop, so you will not need to go all the way to the notification centre every time you need to glance upon some information.
If you already have widgets in the Notification Centre, simply drag and drop them onto your desktop to enter edit mode. Otherwise, right-click on any blank area on your desktop and select “Edit Widgets.” This will open a widget picker that displays the available apps on the left of the window. Choose an app to view the widget types and sizes, then drag and drop them onto the desktop.

The latest version of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Sonoma updates now have interactive widgets that allow you to complete tasks without opening related apps, making them more useful. For instance, you can tick off completed tasks in Reminders, and turn on a light in the new Home widget by clicking on it.
Additionally, you can add widgets from your iPhone’s installed apps to your Mac desktop. Your iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network or near your Mac to do this. So, you will not need to open up your iPhone if you want to see something quickly. However, these widgets are not interactive, so you will need an iPhone to see more beyond a widget.
When there is no active window on your screen, widgets will display colour. If you are working on a window, the widget fades away into a translucent state, and this effect is pleasing, as widgets remain readable but are not distracting.
The widget Home app will act as a hub for managing accessories. Contacts and Safari offer quick access, while Books and Podcasts have enhanced playback options. While there is a widget for Music on iPadOS and iOS, it will be coming to macOS later, which will have the ability to control playback, follow charts, and show personalised recommendations. Now, all we need is more and more third-developers to bring widgets to macOS.
Get an aerial view on your lock screen
macOS Sonoma features a collection of aerial screensavers and wallpapers much reminiscent of screensavers that you might have seen on Apple TV.
The collection is divided into four categories: landscape, cityscape, underwater, and Earth, including a view of Grand Canyon, Patagonia, Yosemite, London, California Kelp Forest, California Dolphins, and Caribbean Day.
These high-resolution, slow-motion aerial shots can be set as your screensaver on the lock screen. Once you log in, it continues for a few more seconds, seamlessly waking up your computer, and settles into a still, if you have selected the same to be your wallpaper.

There is also a new abstract dynamic wallpaper, which like any other previous wallpaper changes based on the time of day and whether you’re in light or dark mode.
Aside from the new lock screen, there is not much of a visual change, and it could be one of the most polarising changes in recent years. The lock screen is now a lot similar to how it is on iPads – a clean slate showing just the date and time, with your photo and name on the bottom. Sadly, there are no widgets there.
Browsing through the web? No, it’s time for web apps now
Safari’s fall release will introduce new features like single-site web apps and profiles. Though, one of the biggest additions would be the option to create web apps. It is so simple that all you need to do is open the website and select “Add to Dock” from the file menu. You can then customise the app name and icon, and launch it like any other app.
Then, there is the new Profiles feature that lets you create separate identities for unique web service logins, favourites, and histories. It is useful for keeping work and personal browsing separate and can be synced across multiple devices, including iPhone and iPad. You can set a profile for Focus mode to easily switch between work and relaxation modes, and Safari will adjust accordingly.
The search bar in Safari has been improved to display helpful results such as weather reports and sports scores in a box below the search bar. Additionally, the private browsing windows are now locked when not in use.
Stickers on the Mac
macOS Sonoma brings some of the new messaging features that were introduced this summer.
With the new stickers drawer, you access Live Stickers and Memoji, and they are synced with iCloud, so you can access them on any of your devices. However, you cannot create one like you can on iPhone and iPad. The search filters for people and file types are also there, along with swipe to reply and catch up.
One of the nicest additions to conversations is the Reactions on FaceTime. If we were to explain what it is, the “Reactions” enable you to express yourself without disturbing the ongoing conversation, and you can activate them either by hand gestures or manually. There are eight reactions in total: thumbs up, thumbs down, rain, fireworks, lasers, confetti, hearts, and balloons.
Another feature that would come helpful during video meetings is the Presenter Overlay. It lets you appear in an onscreen circle while sharing content, and you can superimpose yourself on top of the content too. However, it is limited to Apple Silicon Macs, so it will not work if you have an older Intel-powered Mac. Still, macOS Sonoma also has other new screen-sharing options, like sharing a single window or multiple apps.
Can you play games on Mac? Yes
While Macs have been the top choice for those looking for productivity machines, it has never been the choice for gamers. Not because you cannot game on it, but because there are no games. However, that should change soon, as with macOS Sonoma, Apple has introduced a new Game Porting Toolkit.
This toolkit will allow developers to port their existing Windows titles to Macs without hassle. Hideo Kojima is one of the early adopters, bringing his popular title, Death Standing to the Macs.
If you have been playing games on Mac, then the Game Mode should improve the experience further. It prioritises CPU and GPU requirements for better gaming performance and stability. Additionally, it doubles the sampling rate for third-party controllers and reduces AirPods’ audio latency.
Notes, Reminders, and everything else
The fall release of Notes will have improvements for note-taking, including internal note linking and new formatting options for code snippets and research projects. The app will also handle PDFs more efficiently with a horizontal strip of pages that can be navigated easily. Users can now take notes while viewing a PDF and export notes to Pages.
Sonoma has a nifty new feature for Reminder – the Grocery lists, which automatically sort things by category, making shopping easier. The feature carries over to other lists, which can be divided into sections for better organisation. The new column view turns each section into a column, making it a simple Kanban board.
The Sonoma also brings some new security and privacy features, including shared passwords, which makes managing passwords easier by allowing you to share them with trusted individuals. Other privacy and security features include default private browsing, URL tracking removal, and updated information sharing in Calendar and Photos. Communication safety features also protect kids from sensitive content.
Last but not least, autocorrect on Mac has also been improved thanks to a more accurate language model. The system suggests word and phrase autocompletion, and you can easily undo changes.
macOS Sonoma offers a balance of productivity and fun, with refined features while not entirely overhauling the interface everyone has been used to. Don’t you think that macOS has started to look like iOS?