MacOS Big Sur Vs Catalina – Should You Upgrade?

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The big question you might have is whether you should upgrade to macOS Big Sur or wait until it becomes available later this year. Whether you should upgrade is up to you, but it’s important to understand what’s new in Big Sur. If you’re not sure if your Mac is compatible with Big Sur, read this article to find out more. In addition, we’ll cover how to install Safari on macOS Big Sur, and if it’s safe to upgrade.

What’s new in Big Sur

One of the biggest differences between the two operating systems is the control center. While the control center is not new, it is now a more prominent place to find and adjust various settings, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume, and system volume. Additionally, macOS Big Sur comes with a new Control Center icon that resembles the iOS equivalent. The Control center also lets you quickly access settings such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as volume and display brightness.

The icons for Big Sur have been refreshed and optimized for iOS and iPadOS. In addition, notifications can now be customized and inline replies are now available. Users can now add up to nine conversations to the top of their message list, as well as sync conversations across multiple devices. You can also send pictures and GIFs directly from the app, as well as search for trending images. For Mac users, Siri can now answer questions by searching the web.

Requirements for Big Sur

In addition to having an upgraded graphics card, macOS Big Sur offers a refined and cleaner look. Additionally, the software update feature lets the process run in the background. This feature is powered by a cryptographically signed system volume to provide an added layer of security against malicious tampering. Furthermore, Big Sur supports APFS Time Machine backups. However, these additional features may not be required for every user. This might be a bit complicated, so its best to get in touch with our mac experts.

The system requirements for macOS Big Sur are compatible with all current models of Apple’s computers. For example, MacOS Catalina only supported the latest MacBook and Mac mini models. But Big Sur is compatible with any Mac model from 2013 and later. In addition to improved security, Big Sur offers other features like Control Centre, unified dock icons, and a new font. To download Big Sur, you must own a Mac running macOS Catalina or later.

If you wish to upgrade your Mac, you can download the Big Sur installer from the Mac App Store. You can then install Big Sur on your Mac by running it. Alternatively, you can create a USB installer for your Mac to use during the upgrade process. Although Macs with Apple T2 chips cannot boot from an external media, older Macs with the same chips can do so. To get around this issue, you need to connect to the Internet while running the setup process.

MacOS Big Sur Vs Catalina: Safari

If you’re wondering what changes have been made in Safari on macOS Big Sur, there are two major differences between Big Surf and its counterpart, the recently released macOS Catalina. Both macOS versions have received a significant update to the user interface. Both versions are betas, so there are still some bugs and issues to work out. Big Sur has fewer minor changes than Catalina, but the differences between the two are significant enough to warrant a closer look.

Big Sur includes the webpage translation feature. Previously, the only languages supported by Safari were Spanish and English. Now, however, it supports French, Russian, and Spanish. However, if you need to use a non-English site on your Mac, the features you’ll love will still be there. And if you’re a fan of multilingual interfaces, you’ll be pleased to learn that Big Sur also includes the ability to translate webpages.

Is it safe to update to Big Sur?

If you want to upgrade your Mac to the latest macOS, you should take the time to research the benefits of this update. MacOS Big Sur is free and easy to install, but you should first make sure that your current Mac is compatible with the new OS. You should also check the disk space that you have available on your machine before installing Big Sur. Before upgrading, make sure that you have backed up your data on your Mac first. You may also want to download CleanMyMac X to optimize your Mac and free up space.

Security-wise, it is definitely a good idea to update to macOS Big Sur, as it incorporates patches from earlier versions of the operating system. The most recent version of macOS has more than 50 security patches. If you’re worried about your computer’s security, you can check out the new version of macOS on Apple’s security site. This version of macOS is more secure than its predecessors. You can download macOS Big Sur 11.6.4 for free here.

MacOS Big Sur Vs Catalina: Performance

The biggest question on your mind right now is how Macs running MacOS Big Sur or Catalina compare with the latest version of iOS. While the latter’s performance boost is certainly welcome, some people are hesitant to switch to Big Sur. The new operating system requires a relatively new Mac to run well. You should know that the former is still a developer beta, but it’s a lot more stable. However, you should be aware that Big Sur might have some weird bugs, and it may not be compatible with all applications.

One of the biggest differences between Big Sur and Catalina is the notification centre. If you have a lot of widgets in your notification center, Catalina may get a little cluttered. In contrast, Big Sur’s notification centre will have more widgets. While Big Sur’s notification centre will be simpler to navigate, it’s less likely to be cluttered. Also, Big Sur won’t be as slow as Catalina, but the performance difference is noticeable.

MacOS Big Sur Vs Catalina: Design changes

There are several major design changes in the newest version of the MacOS operating system, including new app icons and a more minimalist look. While the Finder has been largely unchanged, the sidebar has been redesigned with a more minimalistic look. The icons for Mail, Messages, and Pages are now square and symmetrical, much like their iOS counterparts. In addition, the Dock has undergone major overhauls. The rounded corners and simpler, white backgrounds make it easier to navigate, and new app icons have been enhanced with shading and shadows.

Both the Big Sur and the new Catalina will introduce major changes to their design. Big Sur will have more uniform app icons, and will feature a Control Centre. Catalina will also bring a unified look to the dock, which has been plagued by inconsistent app icon styling and a lack of consistency. However, the Messages and Safari icons in the new OS will be a welcome change.

Also See: How to downgrade from MacOS Catalina to High Sierra?

MacOS Big Sur Vs Catalina: Notification center changes

Notification Center has been improved in macOS Big Sur compared to the previous version. Although the center is still confusing at times, it is now easier to use, and new widgets make it easier to manage your notifications. Big Sur removes the separate Do Not Disturb and Night Shift tabs, and a drop-down menu makes it easier to manage notifications. If you don’t use Notification Center much, it might be time to try the new version.

Notifications in Big Sur are now grouped by app. You can also group notifications in different groups. These changes are similar to those in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. They are also compatible with third-party widgets. Those widgets will work the same way on both Mac and iOS devices. Despite the similarity between the two versions of macOS, the new version is much more customizable.

Conclusion

Upgrading to MacOS Big Sur can be an exciting step, but it comes with a lot of drawbacks. Older machines will probably not benefit from the new OS. Older hardware is designed to work with older macOS versions. While you’ll probably get a little better performance without the upgrade, you’ll have to go through the hassle of reinstalling everything after the upgrade.

The first step to troubleshooting problems with the new Mac OS is to find out what is causing the problem. If you’ve noticed that the download has been slow or is stuck at the ‘Setting Up Your Mac’ message, it’s most likely due to the high demand for the new version. If this happens, try downloading at another time of the day or a less popular time. You can also check the status of the Apple Server by looking at the’macOS Software Update’ section. If the dot is red or yellow, there’s a problem with Apple delivering the update. If it’s red or yellow, there’s a problem with the servers.

You may also want to upgrade if you’re running an older macOS version. While Big Sur is free to download and install, there are some issues with backup apps that create bootable duplicates. Big Sur applies cryptographic signatures, which make creating bootable duplicates difficult. ChronoSync and Carbon Copy Cloner have developed workarounds to handle the problems, but SuperDuper is still incompatible. However, you can still use older versions of these tools to backup your files and optimize your Mac for Big Sur.

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Author:
I am a computer engineer holding a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, complemented by a Master's in Business Administration from University of Strathclyde, Scotland. I currently work as a Senior IT Consultant in Melbourne, Australia. With over 15 years of...