macOS Sequoia beta 2 adds one of the most important upgrades in years — here's why everyone is talking about iPhone mirroring

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Great for efficiency.

macOS Sequoia
(Image credit: Apple)

With WWDC 2024 firmly in the rearview mirror, all eyes are on iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence. However, one subtly great improvement to Mac has just arrived in macOS Sequoia beta two that you have to try out for yourself. 

iPhone mirroring is finally here if you are willing to download the macOS Sequoia beta, and it allows you to control your iPhone from your Mac. What is perhaps the smartest feature of iPhone mirroring is you don’t even need to unlock your iPhone to do so. If you want to work from a cafe and check your notifications without running the risk of leaving your iPhone unlocked, you can. 

During the WWDC 2024 Apple Keynote, iPhone mirroring was shown off very briefly but it still looked incredible. If you edit videos from both iPhone and Mac, you can simply drag clips from one device and they will seamlessly work on the other. When combined with StandBy Mode, you can use your iPhone as a watch and calendar whilst doing all the heavy lifting on the impressive screen of the best MacBooks. 

What else is coming with macOS Sequoia?

The Calculator app has been entirely redesigned and will pair with Notes for smarter number note-taking. Passwords, a new password manager is also coming with Sequoia, making the Apple ecosystem even easier to use. The biggest change coming to Mac is the implementation of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI suite. This will make Siri much faster and more efficient and will allow you to more easily create Shortcuts and customize your device. ChatGPT integration will be coming alongside it, allowing you to query the chatbot for information and advice. 

Finally, one that Mac fans have been waiting a long time for, tiling is arriving for program windows, allowing you to snap windows together while you work. Silicon Macs are about to get so much better. 

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James Bentley
James Bentley

James is a staff writer and general Jack of all trades at iMore. With news, features, reviews, and guides under his belt, he has always liked Apple for its unique branding and distinctive style. Originally buying a Macbook for music and video production, he has since gone on to join the Apple ecosystem with as many devices as he can fit on his person. 

With a degree in Law and Media and being a little too young to move onto the next step of his law career, James started writing from his bedroom about games, movies, tech, and anything else he could think of. Within months, this turned into a fully-fledged career as a freelance journalist. Before joining iMore, he was a staff writer at Gfinity and saw himself published at sites like TechRadar, NME, and Eurogamer. 

As his extensive portfolio implies, James was predominantly a games journalist before joining iMore and brings with him a unique perspective on Apple itself. When not working, he is trying to catch up with the movies and albums of the year, as well as finally finishing the Yakuza series. If you like Midwest emo music or pretentious indie games that will make you cry, he’ll talk your ear off.