So far I have updated my iPhone to iOS 26 as soon as I could, I never pulled the trigger with macOS Tahoe. I love my iMac M1, but I'm worried that the first version of this new update from Apple not quite optimized for a five year old chipand waited to see if a future version of the Tahoe would perform a little better.
It just so happens that the next version is already here –and it seems to have improvedat the same time. Apple is simultaneously conducting beta testing of macOS Tahoe 26.1. iOS 26.1 since September and officially released it on Monday, November 3rd. The update has only just been released, but thanks to the beta period, we know what features Apple has in store for Mac users who decide to install 26.1. It's a much smaller version than macOS 26, but the update comes with some cool new features that users can explore.
Controlling the appearance of Liquid Glass
By far the most striking difference between this year's Apple updates and last year's is Liquid Glass. This new design language is the most radical change to Apple's user interface in years, and while some people love it, others hate it. I love the new look of my iPhone, but I understand why some users don't like the way some elements show through the background, reducing visibility in some cases.
Apple seems to have taken criticism to heart: with macOS Tahoe as well as iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1the company is now giving users control over the appearance of Liquid Glass, at least to some extent. New switch that you can find in System Preferences > Appearancehas two options: “Transparent”, which maintains the original look of Liquid Glass, and “Tinted”, which increases the opacity of your system's UI elements. With Tinted, you won't see much of the background, and everything that happens doesn't capture the overlay element as much.
If the liquid glass in macOS Tahoe seems too transparent and “glassy” to you, it might be worth giving this a try.
Expanded support for Apple Music AutoMix.
Apple's latest update package introduced a new DJ-like feature to Apple Music. AutoMix will automatically create a transition between songs, seamlessly transitioning from one song to the next. This is a cool feature(when it works well), and can make the transition between dissimilar songs much smoother.
In macOS 26.1, AutoMix now works via AirPlay. Previously, you lost this functionality when transferring music to an AirPlay device.
Better FaceTime sound quality
Apple says Mac users who update to version 26.1 should experience improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth environments. The company isn't sharing details, but it's good news that if you call someone in an area with a weak signal or weak Wi-Fi connection, you'll be able to hear each other better.
What are your thoughts so far?
Communication security and web content filters for child accounts
If you have child accounts on your Mac (set up for children between the ages of 13 and 17), communication and web content security filters will be enabled by default for those accounts when you update to the latest version. These filters are designed to restrict adult websites, protecting minor users from content they should not access.
New network icon.
As noted by the MacOSBeta subredditApple has updated the network icon for macOS 26.1. I think the new icon looks great: it has a blue theme with glow effects:
New Macintosh HD icon.
Likewise, the Macintosh HD icon has received a slight update. The original Tahoe badge was a major upgrade from the previous iconic badge. Now Apple has removed additional elements to simplify the design. (I still miss the original.)
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Possibly a few security updates
Apple hasn't announced security updates for macOS 26.1 yet, but it's likely there will be some. Apple doesn't release true security patches as often as other companies, with the exception of emergency updates. Instead, the company typically bundles its security patches into point updates like 26.1. Once the official update is released, expect Apple to update its security release notes to include details about these fixes.
