macOS 26.4: Improvements for Safari and battery management – and a warning
Apple released the first developer beta of macOS 26.4 this week. The new Siri is missing, but there are other improvements – and important information.
macOS 26: New look with Liquid Glass.
(Image: Apple)
Apples recently released beta version of macOS 26.4 for developers comes with some interesting new features. According to testers, these include updates to the Safari browser, Mac battery management, and the future of Intel compatibility on Apple Silicon machines.
Compact tab layout is back
Users of Apples default browser can now choose a new display option. The so-called compact tab layout in Safari combines the URL bar with the tab bar, saving some space but not necessarily improving clarity. Apple had originally planned this feature for macOS 26 Tahoe, but then removed it during the beta phase; interestingly, it can still be activated in macOS 15 alias Sequoia by going into Safari settings.
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According to testers, Apple has also re-integrated the function into iPadOS 26, where it was initially planned but later removed. The new tab look has been a long-standing topic for Apple – they experimented with it back in iOS and iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 respectively (and several years prior). At that time, they reverted to the old look but allowed the new design to be activated later.
Battery and Intel
Also new in macOS 26.4 Beta is an improvement in battery management. Apple is implementing a charge limit for the first time, allowing users to set their Mac to charge only up to 80 percent of 100 percent. This is intended to help preserve battery health and is already implemented in iOS. Previously, this was only possible automatically through so-called optimized charging – the computer learns the users habits and determines when it is beneficial to fully charge the battery. With macOS 26.4, users can now define the maximum charging capacity between 80 and 100 percent.
Also new in the developer beta is an informational dialog that warns users when launching Intel apps not optimized for Apple Silicon about their impending end. Apple plans to discontinue support for the Rosetta 2 translation layer with macOS 27. This means only macOS 26 and macOS 27 will support Intel apps. After that, it will be over. Apple hopes that developers will have adapted their programs by then.
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