Apple macOS 26.4 released with feature for improved MacBook battery lifespan

At the same time as the release of iOS 26.4 for the iPhone, Apple has also released macOS 26.4. The update should be available on all compatible Macs within a few hours and can be downloaded and installed as usual in System Preferences under General --> Software Update. The update is available for all Macs with Apple ARM chip up to the new MacBook Neo ($599 on Amazon) as well as for the MacBook Pro and the Mac Pro from 2019.

Probably the most exciting new feature is the option to limit the battery charge level to 80, 85, 90 or 95 percent in the system settings. Not charging the battery to 100 percent potentially extends its service life before it needs to be replaced. This function is available in addition to Apple's "optimized charging", which attempts to charge the battery to the set maximum only by the time the MacBook is usually disconnected from the power supply - this should also extend the service life.

macOS 26 brings back the compact tab layout in Safari, which was removed with the release of macOS 26. The tabs, buttons and address bar are displayed in one line to save vertical space. The Freeform app receives premium content, but only for subscribers to Apple Creator Studio. macOS 26.4 introduces a new warning when opening an app that has not yet been optimized for ARM processors - as Rosetta 2 will be discontinued with macOS 28 next year, these apps can no longer be opened in the future. The Reminders app has been given the option of marking entries as "urgent" using a keyboard shortcut and filtering them.