macOS 10.15 is this year's major update to the operating system that runs on Apple's Mac devices, and in this guide we gather together everything we know so far about macOS 10.15 – including features we'd like to see and any rumors we may have heard.
The current version of the operating system, macOS Mojave has grown to be one of the best iterations of Apple’s operating system (OS) we’ve seen yet. With its system-wide Dark Mode and tools for creative professionals, it improved on nearly every aspect of macOS High Sierra. But, that leaves us wondering: what will macOS 10.15 look like?
We get a new macOS each year, and 2019 should be no different. At the moment Apple hasn’t given us many hints of what we can expect in macOS 10.15. However, we have seen some rumors that iTunes will be split into four different apps, Music, Books, TV and Podcasts. We won’t know for sure until WWDC 2019 on June 3, but that would be more effective than running iTunes just to listen to music.
So, because we don’t have much official information to go off of, we’ll make some educated guesses based on macOS releases, as well as craft a wish list of things we’d like to see in macOS 10.15. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any macOS 10.15 news or rumors that comes our way.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next version of macOS
- When is it out? Likely around September 2019
- What will it cost? macOS 10.15 will likely be free.
Image Credit: Apple
macOS 10.15 release date
Out of everything, the macOS 10.15 release date is probably the easiest to predict. For the last few years, Apple has announced a new version of macOS in June at WWDC and released it at the end of September.
We have little doubt that Apple will do the same with macOS 10.15, and we’ll likely see Apple show off the next version of the operating system at WWDC 2019 on June 3. Still, with Apple you can never be too sure, as it has a habit of switching things up. We’ll be sure to update this article as soon as we know exactly when the new macOS will grace your Mac.
Image Credit: Apple
macOS 10.15 name
Whether it was Leopard, Lion, Sierra or High Sierra, macOS has always had a penchant for catchy names. We think Apple will have something clever up its sleeve for macOS 10.15, too, but we don’t quite know what the name will be.
We could see Apple making minor improvements to Mojave and making a minor tweak to the name, like it did from Sierra to High Sierra or Leopard to Snow Leopard. Maybe we’ll see a Dry Mojave, or just the name of another desert. Either way, we’ll know for sure in June.
Image Credit: Apple
macOS 10.15 compatibility
Apple made waves when macOS 10.14 Mojave was the first version of macOS since Sierra to change the system requirements of the OS. Because it relied on heavier graphics performance, some older Macs were left in the dust. To run macOS 10.14 Mojave you’ll need one of the following Macs:
- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer, or older models with Metal-compatible GPU)
- iMac Pro (2017)
Now, we’re not sure exactly what Apple is planning in terms of compatibility with older Macs, but we’d put our money on options staying pretty much the same this time around. macOS High Sierra really didn’t have any radical requirements compared to Sierra, and we don’t think macOS 10.15 will either.
macOS 10.15 confirmed features
We're still quite a while away from the likely official release date of macOS 10.15, so confirmed features that will be coming with the new operating system are thin on the ground. However, we do know some of the features that will be coming to macOS 10.15.
iOS apps in macOS 10.15
Apple has been talking a lot about cross-platform apps, which means iPhone and iPad apps will be available for Mac devices as well (and vice-versa). While macOS Mojave brought some iOS apps, Apple looks set to expand the feature in macOS 10.15 and iOS 13.
According to Bloomberg, Apple will release an SDK in June at WWDC that lets developers easily port their iPad apps to macOS 10.15.
Apple also plans by 2021 for developers to be able to make one app that will automatically work on iPhone, iPad and Macs without the need to port.
Use an iPad as a second screen
It's widely expected that macOS 10.15 will come with a feature that enables you to send apps to external displays – including iPads. So, you should be able to open apps on your Mac and display them on an iPad. You could potentially also use the Apple Pencil stylus to draw on the iPad, and have it appear on your Mac.
Siri shortcuts
Rumors suggest that Siri Shortcuts are coming to macOS 10.15. These allow you to use your voice to control Siri, who can now handle multi-step instructions, which will make tasks more simple.
Image Credit: Apple
What we want to see
While we’re generally pleased as punch with macOS 10.14 Mojave – even though it’s had some problems of its own – we don’t believe a “perfect operating system” exists. So, we’ve thought of some features and improvements we’d like to see in macOS 10.15, whatever it ends up being called.
Bring back Cover Flow
Apple’s macOS Mojave brought the Gallery View to Finder that, while amazing in its own right, isn’t quite as fast at scrolling through images as the old Cover Flow view, introduced in macOS 10.5 Leopard.
The way we look at it, both of these views have their own uses, but Cover Flow is much faster, and just a better way to sort through large folders of images. Is it too much to ask to have both?
More iOS apps
We already know that more iOS apps will be coming to the Mac in 2019, but we would like to see a lot more.
Just think about how great it would be to work on a project on your iPhone, and be able to seamlessly continue it on your Mac when you get back to your office or home. There’s already plenty of cross-platform capabilities built in to macOS Mojave – especially now that Continuity Camera is a thing – but we’d like to see the Apple ecosystem become even more seamless.
Luckily, it looks like Apple plans to do just that. Rumors point to the Cupertino giant releasing tools to help developers port iPad apps over to macOS 10.15. Apple will reportedly preview a new ‘Marzipan’ SDK on stage at WWDC. While it will initially be just for iPad apps, word on the street is that iPhone support will go live in 2020.
Beyond that, it looks like Apple may be planning to split iTunes up into four different apps, reflecting the software available on iOS. Rather than having books, music, video and podcasts all in the iTunes App, they’d all be split into their own dedicated software. Finally.
Can we please just cut and paste files?
Apple’s macOS Finder is usually fantastic for organization, and it’s one of the core reasons why people keep paying to use Mac devices year after year. But, Apple, please: can we cut and paste files now?
Windows users have been able to do this since before we can remember, and it would make life easier for everyone involved. It would be nice to be able to move files without dragging and dropping or pulling some Matrix-level stunts in the Terminal.
We’re not sure what Apple would have to do in order to enact this change, but it would really make our lives easier.
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