Release record
Methodology-backed forecast
Aug 2, 2026 – Aug 3, 2026
Calculated from comparable completed cycles. This is not an Apple announcement.
Release notes
Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.
This record covers the active macOS Golden Gate 27 cycle through Beta 4. Apple’s version-level plans include Siri intelligence, onscreen Visual Intelligence, photo tools, design and performance work, and preparation for the end of Intel software support; these are not all Beta 4 deltas.[1][2][3]
Apple’s live macOS 27 developer notes contained approximately 75 topic areas and 248 listed items when reviewed on July 29, 2026. The page changes during the beta cycle, so these counts and known-issue states are a dated snapshot.[4]
Source ledger
Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.
Apple Developer · 2026-07-29 · Beta 4 title and build
Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z · Siri availability
Apple Developer Documentation · Apple · 2026-07-29
Documented & observed
Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.
Release changes
Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.
compatibility · fixed
macOS 27 Beta 2 restored support for installing AirPods Max 2 beta firmware after Beta 1 could not perform the update.
Recorded at Beta 2
compatibility · changed
USDKit meshes compressed by Beta 1 and Beta 2 tools were not mutually decodable across the two beta generations.
Recorded at Beta 2
feature · introduced
Beta 3 added two Golden Gate Bridge visual options that could be used as wallpapers and motion screen savers.
Recorded at Beta 3
Release changes
Broader context included for understanding, not claimed as new in this release.
feature · introduced
Apple announced onscreen Visual Intelligence for supported Macs as a version-level capability, not a Beta 4 delta.
Recorded at Beta 4
feature · introduced
This is a version-level announced capability, not a Beta 4 delta; Apple says the next Siri experience is due later in 2026 and subject to availability requirements.
Recorded at Beta 4
developerApi · introduced
Developers gained documented Swift APIs for creating or working with sparse and raw disk images during the macOS 27 beta cycle.
Recorded at Beta 4
enhancement · changed
Apple’s cumulative version plan includes AirDrop, network, Safari, and ultrawide-mode improvements, not a Beta 4-only delta.
Recorded at Beta 4
enhancement · changed
Apple’s version-level Photos plan adds new creative and cleanup workflows; it is not identified as first appearing in Beta 4.
Recorded at Beta 4
compatibility · changed
The beta series adds guidance for software that depends on Intel translation, preparing users and developers for macOS 28 changes.
Recorded at Beta 4
Milestones
Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.
Developer beta
26A5353QDeveloper beta
Apple published macOS 27 Beta 2 as build 26A5368g on 2026-06-22; the page preserves 2 source-supported milestone deltas while keeping build and channel administration in prose.
26A5368GDeveloper beta
Apple published macOS 27 Beta 3 as build 26A5378j on 2026-07-06; the page preserves 1 source-supported milestone delta while keeping build and channel administration in prose.
26A5378JDeveloper beta
26A5378NDeveloper beta
This Beta 4 page records the current macOS Golden Gate 27 seed while treating announced features and transition guidance as cumulative version scope.
26A5388GHistorical context
Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.
Historical avg for major releases
122 days, 11.3 milestones
Based on 6 previous macOS .0 releases
12 days since last beta
Gaps this long have happened 80 times
Most recently: macOS 26.6 had a 20-day gap (Beta 1 → Beta 2)
Pace at day 54
5 milestones (avg: 4.0)
Ahead of pace — previous .0 releases averaged 4.0 milestones at this point
Longest gap in this cycle
14 days
Between Beta 1 and Beta 2
| Version | Year | Cycle | Milestones | Avg. Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| macOS 26.0 | 2025 | 98d | 11 | 10d |
| macOS 15.0 | 2024 | 98d | 9 | 12d |
| macOS 14.0 | 2023 | 113d | 10 | 13d |
| macOS 13.0 | 2022 | 140d | 14 | 11d |
| macOS 12.0 | 2021 | 140d | 13 | 12d |
| macOS 11.0 | 2020 | 143d | 11 | 14d |
Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.