Apple releases macOS 26.4 public beta 3 with battery management, Safari tabs, and Rosetta warnings

Apple has released the third public beta of macOS 26.4, following yesterday's developer beta and today's announcement of the new MacBook Neo. The update brings several notable changes for users, including a fix for a long-standing window resize pointer bug and new features that signal Apple's continued transition away from Intel app support.

Battery management finally native

One of the most practical additions in macOS 26.4 is native support for battery charge capping, a feature that many users have relied on third-party apps to achieve. The system now allows users to set maximum charge levels between 80% and 100%, which can help extend battery lifespan by reducing the time batteries spend at full charge. This has been a common request from MacBook users who want to preserve their battery health over the long term, and it's now built directly into the operating system without requiring additional software.

Safari gets its compact tabs back

The controversial tab design changes in recent macOS versions have been a point of discussion among users, and macOS 26.4 addresses this by bringing back the compact tab bar to Safari. This change should appeal to users who preferred the more space-efficient tab layout from earlier versions of the browser. The compact tabs provide more vertical screen space for web content while maintaining easy navigation between open tabs.

Rosetta's sunset approaches

Perhaps the most significant change in macOS 26.4 is the warning system for Rosetta apps. Apple is now alerting users that Rosetta-translated applications will stop working in the future, as part of the company's plan to end support for the Apple Silicon–Intel translation layer with macOS 27. This serves as a clear signal to developers and users alike that the transition away from Intel app compatibility is accelerating. Users running older Intel-only applications through Rosetta will need to plan for alternatives as Apple continues its push toward a fully Apple Silicon ecosystem.

Bug fixes and improvements

The update also addresses a frustrating window resize pointer bug that affected users in previous beta versions. Unlike in macOS 26.3, where Apple initially marked the fix before reclassifying it as a known issue after public release, the company confirms this bug has been properly resolved in the current beta cycle.

Public beta availability

The release build for today's macOS 26.4 public beta 3 is 25E5223i, matching the latest developer build. Users interested in testing these new features can join Apple's free public beta program by visiting beta.apple.com. As with all beta software, it's recommended to install on a secondary machine or ensure proper backups before updating, as beta versions can contain undiscovered issues.

This beta release represents Apple's continued refinement of macOS as it balances new features with the ongoing transition away from Intel compatibility, while also addressing user feedback on interface elements like Safari's tab design.