Apple revealed a number of new features coming to its devices during its WWDC conference in June, all of which are available now. For Mac, the new features come in the form ofmacOS 14 Sonomaand while there aren’t as many new features for Mac as there are for iPhone withiOS 17and Apple Watch withwatchOS 10, there are still plenty that make updating to the new software worth it. The question is though, is your Mac compatible with the new software? The final build of macOS Sonoma is available now, so you can download it for free if your device is compatible. If you aren’t sure if your Mac is compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma, we’re here to help.
Which Mac models support macOS 14 Sonoma?
Apple is pretty good at supporting older devices for software updates, though there does come a point where the hardware running some older devices just won’t cut it anymore and you’d get a bad user experience so support gets dropped instead. A couple ofMac modelsthat supportedmacOS 13 Venturahave therefore lost support for macOS 14 Sonoma due to a lack of processing power, but there are still plenty of models that will run the new software.
The following Mac models are all compatible with macOS Sonoma:
Will you get all the macOS 14 Sonoma features?
Well, this is the other catch. While your Mac model might support macOS Sonoma, it might be that you don’t get every single new feature offered by the software. There are some great features, like the ability toadd widgets to your desktop, something calledPresenter Overlayin video conferencing that lets you stay part of the conversation when you share your screen,a game modeand changes toMessages, among plenty more.
Presenter Overlay for example, is only available on Mac models running Apple Silicon though, while reacting with your hands to produce a 3D augmented reality effect on a FaceTime call, also needs a Mac with a built-in camera and running Apple Silicon. Game Mode on macOS Sonoma needs Apple Silicon too, and there are other features that are restricted to certain Mac models as well, so while you should get the majority of features, there might be a few you miss out on depending on what model you have.
How to find what Mac model you have
UnlikeiPhoneandApple Watch, Apple doesn’t name its Mac models in number order. It typically distinguishes between models using the processor and year of release, which can make things a little confusing. If you are wondering what Mac you have, you wouldn’t be alone. To find out what Mac model you have, follow these steps:
Apple Silicon models are distinguished by an “M” before them. For example, “M1” or “M2”. If you want the model and serial number of your Mac model, you may get a little more information by holding down theOption keyafter you press theApple logoin the top left corner, and then tapping onSystem Informationand making sureHardwareis selected in the sidebar. From here, you’ll find theModel Number, which you can cross reference withApple’s various support pagesto identify your Mac model.
When is macOS 14 Sonoma available?
Apple released the final build of macOS 14 Sonoma on 27 September, which was a couple of weeks after iOS 17 and watchOS 10 were made available. You can download it by clicking on theApple menuin the top left of your screen > Click onSystem Settings> Tap onSoftware Update> Click onUpgrade Nowto begin the dowload.
