these are the 4 best new features

Finally you can download it: macOS Monterey. The biggest Mac update of this year adds all sorts of innovations, some better than others. These are our favorite features of macOS Monterey.

These are the main macOS Monterey features

It may have taken a while, but macOS Monterey is finally available to download. The 2021 Mac update was announced in July, but has been available for everyone to download since last night (October 25).

That is, provided your Mac is capable of running version 12 of macOS (see the section below for more information). In this piece, we list the biggest features of macOS Monterey.

Also read: These Macs are getting an update to macOS Monterey

1. AirPlay on the Mac

Handy: AirPlay now also works on the Mac. This feature allows you to stream images and audio from your iPhone to your Mac(Book). This works the same way as with the Apple TV. This makes it very easy to view a photo or video on the larger screen of your laptop or computer.

There is only one requirement to use AirPlay on the Mac. You have to make sure that your iPhone and Mac(Book) are connected to the same WiFi network.

2. Battery lasts longer

Are you not near an outlet, but your MacBook battery is almost completely empty? Then you can turn on power saving mode in macOS Monterey. As the name suggests, this ensures that you can use your remaining battery percentages just a little longer.

Some apps are paused and the screen is dimmed. Any background processes are also temporarily shut down. Everything will only resume when you connect the laptop to the mains.

3. Live Text

As far as we’re concerned, Live Text is one of the most useful features in iOS 15, the 2021 iPhone software update. Fortunately, thanks to macOS Monterey, it also works on the Mac.

With Live Text you can recognize and copy text in a photo, for example to a document. You can also have Siri search for additional information, or, for example, directly trace an address in Apple Maps.

4. Spatial Audio on the Mac

Also great: you can now enjoy surround sound on the Mac. Apple has added Spatial Audio to macOS Monterey. We know this function from the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, Apple’s pricey earbuds and headset.

In short, Spatial Audio ensures that the sound seems to come from all sides. This takes into account the position of your head. For example, if a bullet is fired on the left side of the screen in a movie, you will hear it zoom past your left ear.

Also interesting: Some macOS Monterey features aren’t coming to Intel Macs

We’ll have to wait a little longer for these macOS Monterey features

So macOS Monterey adds multiple features, but the stars of the show are fashionably late. The two biggest additions, SharePlay and Universal Control, are not forthcoming.

SharePlay allows you to listen to the same movie, series or music with friends. You simply share your screen, after which everyone (synchronized) can enjoy the same. With iOS 15.1 (and iPadOS 15.1), Apple already brought SharePlay to the iPhone.

Universal Control is especially useful if you also have an iPad. This new feature links your iPad to your Mac. Then you can, for example, drag files from one device to another. It’s unclear when Apple will add SharePlay and Universal Control to macOS Monterey.

More about macOS 12

In addition to these major changes, macOS Monterey adds a host of small, but no less useful, features.

For example, consider the new look of the search function. The previously old-fashioned menu is now more like the Spotlight feature. You use the search function by pressing CMD + Shift + G. Check out more of these handy tips and tricks in our overview of small macOS Monterey features.