The desktop is gaining a handful of widget-based functions that make it easier to stay up-to-date without having to open an app or browser, and the Finder is getting several refinements, like a new toolbar design and easier access for settings and notifications.

Apps have been streamlined with full-height sidebars and a new design focus that puts important and frequently accessed information right up front, with visually appealing new menus. The entire macOS user interface is getting an upgrade, from the icon designs – adding shading and translucency, as well as palette options for light and dark modes. Newer devices, like the iMac Pro and the MacBook will see all models supported, but products with longer legacies, like the Mac mini and the MacBook Air will see a lot of products missing out on support for Big Sur. In fact, it appears that most Macs from 2013 or prior will not be supported, as the support cutoff ends with most 20 models. With the release of Big Sur, Mac users will still see plenty of Intel-based Macs supported, but not as many as Catalina. The current version of macOS Catalina (10.15) is supported across every model line of Mac laptop and desktop, but only going back as far as 2012.

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