Tim Hardwick
On October 28, Apple is expected to release macOS Sequoia 15.1, which brings the first Apple Intelligence features to the Mac, like Writing Tools, new Siri features, Smart Replies, and more. Additionally, macOS 15.1 adds some nice tweaks and improvements to existing Mac features.
Here's what we can expect from the first major macOS Sequoia update, coming later this month. Please note that Apple Intelligence features require Mac computers with Apple Silicon.
iPhone Mirroring Drag and Drop Support
One of the most anticipated iPhone Mirroring features coming in macOS 15.1 is drag and drop support. Once you update to the new software, you'll be able to drag and drop files between your iPhone and Mac.
The iPhone Mirroring feature makes it easy to transfer files between devices, even when your iPhone is locked and charging. With an iPhone running iOS 18.1, you can drag files like photos from your Mac directly to the open Photos app on your iPhone, and they'll be transferred instantly. For PDF files, open the Files app and drag the document from your Mac to your iPhone. Transferring files from iPhone to Mac is the same way – just drag the file to the desired location on your Mac.
New Low Power Mode Switch
Low Power Mode is a long-standing iPhone battery-saving feature that was introduced to the Mac with macOS Monterey. It has remained hidden in System Preferences ever since, but in macOS 15.1, Apple is making it easier to access by adding a Low Power Mode toggle to the Battery menu for MacBook users, allowing you to turn it on or off in just two clicks.
The battery icon now also turns yellow when Low Power Mode is active, just like in iOS. It’s worth noting that some advanced settings, like whether to turn on Low Power Mode automatically when unplugged, remain in System Preferences. When enabled, Low Power Mode optimizes the system to save power by slightly reducing performance, pausing background tasks, reducing screen brightness, and limiting the ProMotion display refresh rate to 60Hz where applicable.
Writing Tools
Apple Intelligence
You can select any text on your Mac and use Apple Intelligence to access writing tools for summaries and more. The Proofing feature scans your text for spelling and grammar errors, offering suggestions for word choice and sentence structure improvements. You can quickly accept all recommendations or review them individually with accompanying explanations.
If you want to improve your writing style, the Rewrite feature lets you adjust the tone without changing the main content. You can choose options like Friendly, Professional, or Brief to tailor your message to your target audience.
The update also introduces versatile summarizing capabilities. You can select text and create concise summaries in a variety of formats, including paragraphs, bullet points, lists, or tables. This feature integrates seamlessly with apps like Mail and Messages, making it easier to retrieve and share written information.
Improved Siri
Apple Intelligence
The Siri window now offers more flexibility, letting you place it anywhere on the screen. A new adaptive glow animation provides visual feedback to indicate when Siri is actively listening without distracting from the tasks at hand.
If you prefer to type, Type to Siri can be quickly accessed by double-pressing the Command key, and now includes suggested queries. Siri’s improved contextual awareness also lets you ask clarifying questions without repeating previously established information.
The update also brings more natural language processing capabilities. Siri can now better understand and interpret you if you stutter or change direction mid-sentence, making the interaction more conversational and less rigid.
Finally, Siri’s knowledge base has been expanded to include comprehensive information about Apple products and support, so you can ask questions about device features and settings. Siri can even look up specific settings even if you’re not sure of their exact names.
Smart Replies and Mail Summaries
Apple Intelligence
To speed up responses, Mail and Messages now include Smart Reply. This intelligence suggests contextual, quick-click responses based on the content of the messages you receive, allowing you to respond quickly and with minimal effort.
In Mail, a new summary button lets you quickly extract the contents of your inbox, providing quick overviews at a glance. The feature also extends to multiple Messages notifications and your Mail inbox, where quick summaries replace the first few lines of each message. Mail also prioritizes urgent messages, automatically moving them to the top of your inbox.
Photos Cleanup Tool
Apple Intelligence
With macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple is introducing a powerful new feature in the Photos app called Clean Up. Using advanced object detection algorithms, this editing tool can automatically identify potentially unwanted objects in your images, allowing you to remove them with ease.
At the same time, users retain complete control over the editing process by being able to manually select objects to remove by clicking, tracing, or brushing over them.
You can zoom in on images to meticulously remove minor blemishes or imperfections using brush strokes. In particular, Clean Up is designed to preserve the integrity of key subjects like people, even if they are unintentionally selected during the editing process.
Transcription Summaries
Apple Intelligence
With macOS Sequoia, Apple has added a transcription feature to Notes that lets you capture audio recordings and automatically generate a verbatim transcript of the content.
In macOS Sequoia 15.1, this feature also provides a short summary of the transcribed text, offering a quick overview of the recorded material. A transcript is useful for recording lectures and meetings as it ensures that no important details are missed, while adding a summary provides a quick reference for key topics, action items, or main points of discussion.
Focus Modes
Apple Intelligence
A dedicated new Reduce Interruptions focus mode filters out all but the most important notifications, ensuring you only see the ones that require your attention.
When setting up or creating a new Focus Mode, there is a new option to turn on Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing. This feature allows you to skip critical notifications while muting less important ones, similar to how Focus Reduce Notifications works.
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