Does the Mac matter anymore?

macOS 26 is another tame upgrade that has more iPhone features than Mac ones. Does Apple care anymore?

- BY ROMAN LOYOLA

In a couple of months, Apple will release macOS 26 (fave.co/40tNQ7w), which brings some nice features to your Mac, including Liquid Glass (fave.co/3TV56ih), a new Phone app, and vastly improved Spotlight Search (page 80). But like other recent updates, it lacks an eyeopening feature that leaves users in awe.

When you take macOS 26 into context with the rest of Apple's upcoming software releases, the Mac was vastly overshadowed. It could make a devoted Mac user wonder if the platform even matters anymore.

iPADOS 26: THE FUTURE

The most exciting release this fall will be iPadOS 26 and its new windowing system (fave.co/4peuSNh). Not only is it a muchneeded feature, but it's also well done-it works like it does on the Mac but with a more modern flair. After trying to implement a multitasking environment tailored specifically for tablets, Apple has finally realized that the best system already exists, and Apple made the right decision to bring a macOS-like system over to iPadOS.

iPadOS 26 puts the iPad in a new spotlight that portrays the iPad as a possible Mac replacement (fave.co/4mCegx5), depending on your use case. Many kids and students grow up using iPads, and iPadOS 26 is the best of both worlds: The new windowing system makes it a viable platform for multitasking and doing more sophisticated work while still allowing the iPad to be an iPad.

It all adds up to the iPad becoming a more prominent platform in Apple's lineup for productivity. And while there isn't a direct competition between iPadOS and macOS—the Mac is still the most competent platform for numerous professions—the iPad is now a more viable choice as a workstation and play station.

iPadOS 26 puts the iPad in a new spotlight that portrays the iPad as a possible Mac replacement.

MACOS 26: THE PAST