With quiet but deliberate momentum, Apple has opened the second public beta of macOS Tahoe 26.4 to testers — a release that carries both the small comforts of restored browser features and the weight of an architectural farewell. The return of Safari's Compact tab layout and a new battery charge limit tool answer longstanding user wishes, while warnings about Rosetta 2 and the removal of Intel-specific code mark the closing of a chapter that shaped the Mac for nearly two decades. Every beta is a rehearsal for the future, and this one makes plain which future Apple has chosen.
Apple Releases Second macOS Tahoe 26.4 Public Beta With Safari and Charging Updates
The Mac is moving forward, and this beta is where that future gets tested
Mark
Why does Apple keep warning people about Rosetta 2 if it's not going away until macOS 27?
Mimi
Because developers need time to update their apps. If Apple just killed it overnight, thousands of programs would stop working. The warnings now give them a runway to rebuild their software for Apple silicon natively.
Mark
And Tahoe 26.4 is the last macOS for Intel Macs—what happens to people who own those machines?
Mimi
They can keep using Tahoe, but they won't get updates beyond it. Intel Mac owners are essentially being told: this is your final stop. It's a hard deadline, but Apple gave them years of warning.
Mark
The charge limit feature—is that new to Mac, or did iPhones have it first?
Mimi
iPhones and iPads got it earlier. Apple's bringing it to Mac now because people who leave their laptops plugged in all day want to protect battery health. It's a small feature with real practical value.
Mark
Why bring back the Compact tab layout in Safari if they removed it in the first place?
Mimi
User feedback. People missed it. Sometimes Apple removes things to simplify, realizes it was a mistake, and brings them back. This is that cycle.
Mark
When should people expect this to actually ship?
Mimi
Spring, which typically means March through May. But they're still testing, so there could be delays. The beta phase is where real-world problems surface.
O Pulso
- Safari's Compact tab layout — quietly removed in earlier Tahoe builds — has been restored, easing frustration for users who preferred a denser browsing view.
- A new Charge Limit feature lets Mac owners set a battery ceiling anywhere between 80 and 100 percent, giving those who live plugged-in a real tool for preserving long-term battery health.
- Apple silicon Macs now surface warnings for any app still leaning on Rosetta 2, a visible countdown toward the emulation layer's retirement after macOS 27.
- Tahoe 26.4 will be the last macOS release to support Intel Macs, with Apple actively stripping Intel-specific code from the system — an era is ending in real time.
- The beta runway stretches several more weeks toward a spring launch, with possible additions like new emoji still in consideration before the final release.
With quiet but deliberate momentum, Apple has opened the second public beta of macOS Tahoe 26.4 to testers — a release that carries both the small comforts of restored browser features and the weight of an architectural farewell. The return of Safari's Compact tab layout and a new battery charge limit tool answer longstanding user wishes, while warnings about Rosetta 2 and the removal of Intel-specific code mark the closing of a chapter that shaped the Mac for nearly two decades. Every beta is a rehearsal for the future, and this one makes plain which future Apple has chosen.
Apple released the second public beta of macOS Tahoe 26.4 on Monday — just one day after developers received the same build — continuing a steady testing cadence ahead of a spring launch. Anyone enrolled in Apple's beta program can pull the update directly through Software Update in Mac settings.
Two features stand out in this round. Safari recovers its Compact tab layout, a view option that had vanished in earlier Tahoe builds and frustrated users who preferred a more condensed interface. Meanwhile, a new Charge Limit setting lets Mac owners cap battery charging anywhere from 80 to 100 percent — a meaningful tool for those who keep their machines plugged in and want to protect long-term battery health.
Beneath the surface-level additions, the update carries a heavier signal. Apple silicon Macs will now display warnings for applications still dependent on Rosetta 2, the translation layer that allows Intel-native software to run on Apple's chips. Apple intends to retire Rosetta entirely after macOS 27, making these alerts an active countdown for developers and users. More significantly, Tahoe 26.4 will be the last version of macOS to run on Intel-based Macs at all — Apple is removing Intel-specific features from the codebase, drawing a firm line under nearly two decades of that architecture.
Several more weeks of testing remain before the spring release, during which Apple may introduce further additions — new emoji among them. For now, the second beta is a clear marker: refinements are landing, battery tools are live, and the platform's architectural transition is no longer approaching — it is already underway.
Apple opened its testing gates on Monday with the second public beta of macOS Tahoe 26.4, along with matching updates for tvOS and watchOS. The release arrived just a day after developers got their hands on the same versions, continuing Apple's steady cadence of refinement ahead of a spring launch.
Anyone already enrolled in Apple's beta testing program can grab the update through the Software Update section in their Mac's settings. The process is straightforward: sign up on Apple's beta site, then let the system handle the download and installation. For those who've been following along since the first beta dropped a week earlier, this represents the next iteration of testing.
The headline additions in this round center on two areas that address long-standing user requests. Safari gets back its Compact tab layout—a feature that disappeared in earlier versions of Tahoe and left some users frustrated. The browser now lets you choose a more condensed view if you prefer it. On the hardware side, Macs gain a new Charge Limit feature that gives users granular control over battery health. You can now set a maximum charge level anywhere from 80 percent to 100 percent, letting you preserve battery longevity if you keep your machine plugged in most of the time.
But the update also signals something larger: Apple is actively dismantling support for older hardware. Users running Apple silicon Macs will now see warnings about any applications still relying on Rosetta 2, the translation layer that lets Intel-native apps run on Apple's chips. Apple plans to retire Rosetta entirely after macOS 27 ships, so these warnings are essentially a countdown clock for developers and users alike. Tahoe 26.4 marks a turning point in another way too—it will be the final version of macOS capable of running on Intel-based Macs. Apple is systematically removing Intel-specific features from the codebase, signaling the end of an era that defined the Mac for nearly two decades.
The testing phase will stretch on for several more weeks before the spring release. During that time, Apple may introduce additional features—new emoji characters are among the possibilities being considered. For now, the second beta represents a checkpoint: Safari refinements are in place, battery management tools are live, and the transition away from older architectures is accelerating. The Mac is moving forward, and this beta is where that future gets tested before it arrives.
Citações Notáveis
Apple is phasing out Rosetta after macOS 27— Apple's deprecation timeline
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