While the new ‘floating glass’ look and a way more powerful limelight may be the leading features of MacOS Tahoe 26, I have found that it has been shown to convey a much-loved iPhone feature to be the highlight after week’s test.
Live activities steal the show on iPhone thanks to their brilliantness and effortless way of highlighting key info, whether from a first or third-party app. Some of my favorites are:
- Flyy shows floating tracking details in real time, for myself, family or friends
- Airlines such as United show my seat, a countdown to boarding or even baggage expense
- Ridinghare -Apps tell you what kind of car you drive in
- Apple Sports showing your favorite teams live score in real time with the game
Now all this is arriving on Mac-like at the top navigation bar near the right side. They appear when your iPhone is nearby, signed in the same Apple account, and mirror the same live activities that you would look at your phone. It is a simple but powerful addition.
Given that Apple brought iPhone mirror to Mac in 2024, this 2025 follow-up is not surprising. But it is exactly the kind of small function that makes a big difference. I have loved being able to control a score, trace a flight or see my live position in a plane – without fishing for my phone.
I’ve used it lots on my desk, but for me it really shines in economy class. If you’ve ever tried to balance an iPhone and a MacBook Pro – or even a MacBook Air – on a tray table, you know the awkward overlap. I usually end up sticking the iPhone against my screen, hanging it out of the palm lil, or just throwing it in my lap. With live activities on Mac, I can stick to a device and keep the tray table root -free.
Given messages already synchronized, the iPhone reflection arrived last year, Live activities were ultimately the missing piece. At MacOS Tahoe, they sit nicely collapsed in the menu bar, like the dynamic island on the iPhone, and you can click one to expand and watch the full live activity. Another click on one of these live activities quickly opens the app on your iPhone via the mirror app -it all works pretty trouble -free.
You can also easily reject them as I have found that they are automatically expanded to major updates, which stores the screen’s real estate on your Mac. If you already have a live activity that you really enjoy on your iPhone, there is really no extra work necessary from the developer as these automatically repeat.
All in all, it is a small but super useful tool that really excels in narrow spaces. So if you’ve ever struggled with the same balance action I have with a tray table, your iPhone and a MacBook, knows relief is on the way.
It arrives in the fall (September or October) with the release of MacOS Tahoe 26. If you want it before, the public beta from MacOS Tahoe 26 is out now, but you have to be okay with some bugs and slopes.
