MacOS Versions: Full List, Best & Worst MacOS Version

MacOS has undergone significant transformations since its inception, continually setting new benchmarks for performance, design, and integration. The latest release, macOS Sequoia, marks a major milestone by further bridging the gap between iPhone and Mac through features like iPhone mirroring. This evolution reflects Apple’s commitment to providing a seamless and powerful computing experience.

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macOS Sequoia (2024)

Release Date: Autumn 2024.

Key Features:

• iPhone Mirroring: Seamlessly mirror your iPhone’s screen on your Mac, allowing for direct interaction with apps and content. This integration simplifies workflows by enabling drag-and-drop file transfers between iPhone and Mac.
• Dynamic Desktop Widgets: Introduces interactive desktop widgets that can display real-time information and adapt to your workflow needs.
• Enhanced Privacy Controls: New privacy features provide more granular control over app permissions and data sharing.
• Performance Improvements: Optimizations for M-series chips deliver improved performance and efficiency, making macOS Sequoia faster and more responsive.
• Unified Communication: Streamlines communication across devices with enhanced Messages and FaceTime features, integrating iPhone and Mac more closely.
• Apple Intelligence: AI-powered writing tools, the ability to create on-demand Memories collections based on text input, enhanced Siri and image generation, all are the biggest strategic moves.

Impact: macOS Sequoia pushes the envelope in cross-device functionality, making the Mac and iPhone ecosystem more cohesive and powerful. It exemplifies Apple’s vision for a seamless user experience across all devices.

The evolution of macOS: from Mac OS X to macOS

Like all other operating systems, macOS has changed over time as new functions have been added. The first few versions of the operating system included basic functions such as multiple folders.

Improved interaction with other Apple products, new and improved tools, and services are frequently found in newer macOS versions, which also tend to have user interfaces that are more modern and organized.

In this article, we’ll look at macOS’s evolution, from its early days to the most recent version, and see how it has evolved and grown over time. We’ll also highlight the best and worst macOS versions based on user feedback and ratings to assist you in selecting the best operating system for your requirements.

The full list of macOS versions to date

Here is a list of all macOS versions released up to 2023, along with their release dates:

1. Mac OS X Server 1.0 (March 1999)– The first version of Mac OS X that was designed to be used as a server.
2. Mac OS X Developer Preview (March 2000)– Developers were given the opportunity to create applications for Mac OS X using the preview version launched in March 2000.
3. Mac OS X Public Beta (September 2000)– The public beta version of Mac OS X, available in September 2000, helped identify bugs and gather feedback.
4. Mac OS X 10.0 “Cheetah” (March 2001)– A new user interface and a number of improvements under the hood make Mac OS X the first official release of the operating system.
5. Mac OS X 10.1 “Puma” (September 2001)– The latest version of Mac OS X included new features such as DVD playback along with improved performance and stability.
6. Mac OS X 10.2 “Jaguar” (August 2002)– New features like iChat, Address Book, and Quartz Extreme graphics were included in this update to Mac OS X.
7. Mac OS X 10.3 “Panther” (October 2003)– More than 150 new features, including FileVault and Exposé, were included in this major update.
8. Mac OS X 10.4 “Tiger” (April 2005)– New features including Spotlight, Dashboard, and Safari RSS included in this major update.
9. Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” (October 2007)– The latest version of Mac OS X included over 300 new features, including Time Machine and Spaces.
10. Mac OS X 10.6 “Snow Leopard” (August 2009) – The latest version of Mac OS X, with improved performance, more efficient processes, and new features like Grand Central Dispatch.
11. Mac OS X 10.7 “Lion” (July 2011)– This major update added a new “natural scrolling” interface and Launchpad.
12. OS X 10.8 “Mountain Lion” (July 2012) – Features such as Notification Center and AirPlay Mirroring were added to Mac OS X 10.8.”Mountain Lion”.
13. OS X 10.9 “Mavericks” (October 2013) – Improved energy efficiency and new features like Maps and iBooks in this major OS update for Mac OS X.
14. OS X 10.10 “Yosemite” (October 2014)– New features like Continuity and Handoff were added to Mac OS X 10.10.
15. OS X 10.11 “El Capitan” (September 2015)– New features such as Split View, performance improvements, and stability improvements.
16. macOS 10.12 “Sierra” (September 2016)– iCloud integration improvements with Siri and Auto Unlock, as well as major updates to Mac OS X.
17. macOS 10.13 “High Sierra” (September 2017)– A refinement of macOS that includes APFS and HEVC support, as well as improvements to Safari and Photos.
18. macOS 10.14 “Mojave” (September 2018)– This major update brings Dark Mode and new features like Dynamic Desktop.
19. macOS 10.15 “Catalina” (October 2019)– A major update to macOS that introduces new features such as Sidecar and Screen Time, as well as 64-bit apps.
20. macOS 11.0 “Big Sur” (November 2020)– This major update features a redesigned interface, new features like Control Center and Notification center, as well as improvements to Maps and Messages. It was also the first version of macOS to support Apple’s new M1 chip.
21. macOS 12.0 “Monterey” (October 2021)– A major upgrade to macOS that includes new features such as Universal Control and FaceTime improvements and the option to use an iPad as a second screen.
22. macOS “Ventura” (October 24, 2022)– A nice macOS version with new features such as a revamped Control center and enhancements to Continuity and AirPlay.
23. macOS “Sonoma” (Sept 26, 2023)– A recent macOS version introduced at WWDC 2023, with new features including widgets on the desktop.
24. macOS 15 Sequoia (2024): Brings iPhone mirroring, dynamic widgets, and unified communication, further integrating iOS and macOS ecosystems.

The best macOS version: Sequoia

Choosing the best macOS version depends on individual preferences, device compatibility, and specific requirements. macOS 15 Sequoia may be the strongest version to date, delivering a balance of advanced AI-driven features, refined user experience, and performance optimizations.

Sequoia enhances compatibility with M1, M2, and the latest M3/M4 Macs, offering a highly efficient experience on Apple Silicon. Its new AI-driven capabilities in Siri, object recognition in Photos, improved search results in Spotlight, and intelligent suggestions in Mail streamline workflows and boost productivity. And, iPhone mirroring lets users interact with mobile apps seamlessly on their Macs. We’re also impressed with the feature that sends iPhone notifications straight to our Macs.

With streamlined power management, Sequoia helps to optimize battery life, even with AI functionality in use. Enhanced Focus Mode settings, interactive widgets, and refined multitasking features create a more intuitive and personalized experience.

From productivity to personalization, Sequoia’s upgrades to Safari profiles, intelligent reminders, and enhanced video conferencing make it the most balanced choice for users who want a seamless, high-performance Mac experience.

While Sequoia doesn’t offer a radical overhaul, it provides a solid foundation for future innovations and delivers a significant step forward in terms of performance, user experience, and AI integration.

The worst macOS version: Catalina

The “worst” macOS version is just as subjective as the “best,” depending significantly on one’s preferences. However, according to user reviews, the worst macOS version to date is macOS Catalina (version 10.15), which has received negative feedback for lagging and countless other problems.

According to user reviews and reports from trusted sources like MacRumors, many users found bugs, incompatibilities, and other issues after upgrading to Catalina, and the release got mixed evaluations.

Users have mentioned things like slow speed, software crashes, and issues with data loss or iCloud syncing.

Catalina offered new privacy and security features that needed users to give apps more permissions, but some users found them to be too invasive and difficult to use.

In addition, the decision to stop supporting 32-bit applications resulted in a major problem for users who depended on those older apps for their jobs or other essential tasks because many of them ceased to function.

Overall, despite the fact that Catalina added some helpful new features and improvements, many users found it to be a miserable experience due to compatibility and stability issues, as well as its contentious design decisions, earning it the reputation as one of the worst macOS versions based on features.

The FAQs

Q: How to update to the latest version of macOS?

A: Some Macs will be configured to routinely upgrade macOS. To cleanly install your macOS, or to install the latest macOS on an old Macbook, first, verify the compatibility of your Mac. You can verify this on Apple’s website. After that, back up your info so it can be used with the updated macOS.

To download and install an update, select the “Update Now” option when one is available. Based on the size of the upgrade, downloading, and installing it may take some time. To finish the download procedure, follow the on-screen instructions.

Q: Is there any difference between Mac OS X and macOS?

A: The terms macOS and Mac OS X refer to the same Apple operating system. In 2016, the name of the Mac operating system was changed from Mac OS X to macOS, but the core operating system remains the same.

Q: Which macOS is the fastest?

A: High Sierra is arguably the fastest, but it hasn’t been updated. The same is true in Mojave. Big Sur is a reliable suggestion. Nevertheless, if you are looking for the fastest modern macOS release, you should stick to macOS Sonoma, especially if you have an Apple Silicon-powered Mac.

Q: Which macOS is unsupported?

A: macOS 10.15 Catalina’s last security upgrade was in July 2022, and it is no longer supported.

Q: Do I need to pay for macOS updates?

A: No, most macOS updates are available for free to download and run. Major updates, on the other hand (such as upgrading from mac operating system 10.14 Mojave to mac operating system 10.15 Catalina), may necessitate a significant amount of storage space and may take some time to download and install.

Q: Is it possible to continue using an earlier version of macOS?

A: Certainly, if your Mac hardware supports it, you can still use an earlier version of macOS. However, Apple may discontinue offering security upgrades and bug fixes for older mac operating system versions, possibly leaving them susceptible to security risks.

The ever improving macOS

To sum up, Apple’s macOS has undergone numerous changes and upgrades over the years. New features and enhancements have been added to every version, but some have been more popular than others.

The best or worst macOS version for one user may not necessarily be the same for another, as unique experiences with various macOS versions can range.

Therefore, you should research the different macOS versions to find the best one for you.

Read also:

• How to Fix macOS Sequoia Battery Life and Drain Issue
• How to Fix Slow Mac After macOS Sequoia Update
• macOS Sonoma Vs Ventura – Performance, Features
• Best Mac System Monitor Apps for Performance Checking