If you ’re looking to bribe a unexampled reckoner ( or refresh your exist one ) this vacation season , then there ’s the chance it will be powered by one of two operating systems : Windows 11ormacOS Sequoia . The former is plan by Microsoft for a broad range of personal computer and tablets , while the latter is made by Apple specifically for Macs .
course , that means there are a plenty of comparison you might demand to make before piece your platform of choice or upgrade your personal computer or Mac . The two operating systems might be powering laptops that count and feel the same in manner , but there are many difference under the hood that might shape your decision if you goTeam microcomputer or Team Mac .
That might go confusing to you , but we ’ve got plenty of experience with both macOS and Windows , so we ’ve got you cover with a face at some of the major differences between the two .
Update and compatibility requirements
window 11 set in motion in fall 2021 , while macOS Sequoia is more late , having been unveiled by Apple in summer 2024 . Apple brings out unexampled version of macOS every class , while major Windows updates ( like Windows 10 and Windows 11 ) chance less frequently ( although Microsoft still bring out multiple sizable update every year ) . Both are free update on exist hardware , but there is still a list of condition that need to be met if you hope to scarper the operating systems .
First , macOS Sequoia will install on your gimmick for free as long as your Mac meets its minimum requirements . To verify if yours is , psyche to Apple’smacOS Sequoia pageand scroll to the bottom , where it read “ macOS Sequoia is compatible with these gadget . ”
As for Windows 11 , the state of affairs is quite complicated . Windows 11 only works on PCsthat have a TPM 2.0 chipand an Intel eighth - propagation or AMD Ryzen 2000 CPU and newer . It will also wreak on a Windows 1o on ARM microcomputer with a new Qualcomm processor . That essentially covers any fresh PC purchased in the last few years . It ’s also a free update , as long as you have a valid Windows 10 license . If you do n’t and need to buy it outright , Windows 11 Home costs $ 139 , while Windows 11 Pro is $ 200 . All new Macs add up outfitted with macOS Sequoia , and unexampled PCs arrive with Windows 11 pre - instal .
Multitasking
Multitasking used to be an area where Windows had a clean lead over macOS , but Apple has wield to exit the gap in recent years . For one thing , you could now snap a window to the bound of your screen — or make it take up the entire display — by dragging it to a screen bound . A translucent loge appears around the app window to signal the size and configuration it will take when you let go of it .
Elsewhere in macOS Sequoia , you may oscillate your mouse arrow over a window ’s dark-green maximize push to be given various size options — fall into place one and macOS will translate the window into your chosen shape and billet . instead , hover over the green button and choose Full Screen , then pick either Left of Screen or right wing of Screen to come in Split View way . If you have any other apps open , you ’ll be able to snap one of their window and it will fill the rest of your display , which will be split between the two apps . The black bar separating the apps can be dragged to change the proportion of your showing that each app takes up .
Windows 11 also comes with window snapping . As with macOS , hover your mouse over an app ’s maximize button and you ’ll see various size choice . Windows has more choices here than macOS , and you could also drag the divider between windows to resize them .
Web browser
A fundamental part of any operating system is the vane browser app you utilise . In this paying attention , Safari is Apple ’s built - in macOS Sequoia internet browser , while Windows 11 comes with Microsoft Edge . notice that while Edge is available on macOS , you ca n’t download Safari for Windows 11 .
Apple has made privacy a fundamental marketing point of Safari . It mechanically lug trackers from snooping on your WWW browsing , while it comes with a privateness report that shows you which crossing - site tracker have been stopped on the site you ’re natter . It also comes with tab group to easily orchestrate your open site , build - in prick to translate text edition and look up pic , financial support forpasskeys , and more .
Edge , meanwhile , comes with Microsoft’sCopilotartificial intelligence agency ( AI ) helper include , which can answer queries and appear up information for you . Edge can read web pages aloud , monitor your watchword for breaches , further web browser secret plan graphics with the Clarity Boost feature , and more .
Dock and taskbar
Unlike Windows 10 , Windows 11 has moved the taskbar and Start computer menu into the center of your screen ’s bottom edge , bring them a little closer to the way the Dock works in macOS Sequoia . And rather of the Live Tiles that could be added to the Windows 10 Start carte du jour , you ’ll now see a rowing of apps in Windows 11 , with recent documents displayed underneath . tick the All button to see every installed app . When an app is unresolved , it ’ll appear in the taskbar with a low-cal dot underneath it , point that it ’s running .
There ’s no Start menu in macOS Sequoia . Instead , you ’ve get the Dock full of app image , which Apple has used long before Microsoft switched to a alike frame-up . It shows apps that you ’ve opt to trap in position for quick access , and whenever an app is clear , a black superman look underneath its picture .
In macOS , you also get the Launchpad . This is a little like the Start fare in that it houses all of your installed apps , except it takes up your entire CRT screen rather than being take in a pop - up fare . you may scroll between Thomas Nelson Page of apps and uninstall them by click and obligate on them .
Chat apps
If you ’re using macOS Sequioa , then you ’ll get confabulation apps like FaceTime and Messages , with the former mainly being for television vociferation and the latter for text confabulation . Both synchronize with your iPhone and number with a range of fun features .
Apple ’s macOS Sequoia has a SharePlay feature article for FaceTime where you may watch TV and shows and take heed to medicine with your friends on a call . There ’s also the ability to share your screen and living for spatial audio and articulation closing off during calls on certain Mac models . Portrait mode , animated reactions , and the power to send anyone on Windows and Android a FaceTime meeting link cap out the features . Basically , there are many ways to be societal on Mac machine .
As for Messages , Apple has put in young photos collection features , so they come along as a collage . There ’s even a Shared With You boast so that you may see the Messages link from content shared from Photos , Safari , Apple News , Podcasts , and Apple TV in the comparable app .
In Windows 11 , meanwhile , Microsoft has Teams , which serves as a combine career and messaging app . It can be used for team chat or one - on - one conversation , and likewise work out with single or group call . Unlike Apple ’s schmooze apps , Teams has Microsoft ’s Copilot AI built - in , and this can provide actions and solutions base on your Old World chat , suggest plans for your workweek , and more .
Notifications and Quick Actions
Moving along , Windows 11 contain some breathing in from macOS when it comes to apprisal and Quick Actions . These used to be coalesce in Windows 10 under the Action Center , but are now divide up into separate hubs . Notifications are a lot cleaner , and there ’s a special section with toggles for Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , and sound in Windows 11 .
In macOS Sequoia , there ’s the Control Center for accessing control for Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , music and more with a quick suction stop . It essentially sour a similar way in Windows 11 now . Even notifications in Windows 11 are cleaner , with more rounded corners and the ability to group notifications and even glance at your calendar .
It ’s uncanny when put up against macOS Sequoia , but a little less crowded . That ’s because Apple has widgets in the notification center , whereas Microsoft has put these in its own section to the left side of the screen door for ready glimpse at the weather , sports , tidings , reminder , and more . you may also add widgets to your macOS desktop and interact with them without needing to open their associated apps .
In macOS Sequoia , you may choose a focus time and then mute notification across your devices . Notification tiles are also more clear and identifiable , with turgid visibility icons and app icons . Apple even put in audio and TV transcription indicators in the Control Center , something Windows has had for old age in the Taskbar .
Apps and sharing experiences
And now we derive to the apps and partake in experience . In macOS Sequoia , you could campaign iPad apps on your Mac , giving you more options for thing to run on your equipment . Apple can protect your gadget by only allowing it to lead apps downloaded from the App Store , or you could loosen this restriction and countenance through apps from anywhere .
Windows 11 ’s Microsoft Store now earmark developer to list their app regardless of the computer architecture beneath them . That include Win32 apps like OBS Studio or PWA apps . The design was also tweak to be much leisurely to translate , with a sidebar .
When it occur to sharing , meanwhile , macOS Sequoia allows you to control multiple Macs and iPads with a exclusive keyboard and computer mouse . This characteristic is know asUniversal Controland it mean you’re able to move a shiner across your devices and even drag and drop files from a Mac to an iPad , and frailty versa . It work improbably well and let you have a multi - equipment arrangement set up in mo .
Windows has a standardized feature article calledMouse Without Borders , but it ’s not as well - have sex and does n’t come installed as part of Windows 11 ( you have to install it one by one ) .
Apple also put in the power to playact capacity from an iPhone to a Mac with AirPlay to Mac . This has been on Windows with Miracast , which lets you stream your telephone set or another tablet to your PC , for some clip , and Apple is now catching up to Microsoft .
Performance
With Windows 11 , Microsoft take 40 % faster update processes and says Windows 11 is the most secure Windows yet . Apple has n’t mentioned much in the elbow room of public presentation particular for macOS Sequoia , but we make love its operating organization is very speedy to use . Apple has also added Game Mode to macOS , which prioritise system resource for a game when it ’s running in full - screen way .
Of course , the speed and operation of both Windows 11 and macOS Sequoia will look on the hardware they ’re escape on . If you ’re using an outdated PC or Mac , opportunity are your carrying into action will not be on par with a new computer with a powerful silicon chip inside .
In the close , there ’s a wad more to an operating arrangement than whatever is new in the latest update . Still , it ’s hard not to notice that Windows and Mac have never been so similar , with each arrangement seemingly taking pointer from the other here and there . Most of the changes are for the benefit of the end drug user , which makes the competition between the two operating systems more insidious — and more interesting .
