04 Feb What Is the Order of Mac Operating Systems

Mac Operating Systems are designed to run on Apple laptops and desktop computers. The evolution of the macOS operating system contributes to Apple’s expansion.

This page walks you through the development of Apple’s operating system, from its initial release to the general public in 2001 to the most recent version, macOS Ventura 13.2, which was unveiled in January 2023.

Order of Mac Operating Systems

A quick history- In 1996, Apple purchased NeXT, the business Steve Jobs established after he had left Apple. Jobs returned to Apple in the same year and contributed to the creation of the first Mac OS that could compete with Windows. At that point, it became clear that Apple could develop into a major player.

The first member of the macOS family was Mac OS X Public Beta, which was made available in 2000. Mac OS X 10.0 was then made available to the general public in 2001.

Let’s go over the history of every Mac OS X release, all the way up to the most recent macOS.

MacOS X 10.0 (Cheetah)

It was released on March 24, 2001. This version introduces the Aqua user interface. With support for both 2D and 3D graphics, it represents a significant advancement in GUI and offers a whole new visual experience.

According to Steve Jobs, the water theme in Cheetah made people want to lick their screens. But there is a price to beauty. Cheetah became extremely sluggish as a result of upgrades. This led  Apple to change the following releases’ emphasis from the visual experience to performance.

MacOS X 10.1 (Puma)

Released on September 25, 2001.  As you may have noticed, Apple’s initial operating systems were given animal names. Puma comes with a significant performance including easier CD and DVD burning, new Finder capabilities, and more comprehensive printer support.

MacOS X 10.2 (Jaguar)

It came into existence on August 23, 2002. Can you believe that Finder used to exist without a search? It was added to Finder in the third version of Mac OS X. A number of privacy features, MPEG-4 compatibility for QuickTime, and Universal Access, an Accessibility API, are also included in Jaguar. Even now, some of the apps created with this edition are still available for Mac (for example, Address Book, which is now called Contacts).

MacOS X 10.3 (Panther)

Meet Safari! Its first appearance was on October 24, 2003. Internet Explorer is replaced with Apple’s first official web browser for Mac. Although it wasn’t the default browser before, Safari was in reality a feature of Jaguar. Other than that, Panther introduces more than 150 new features, such as improvements to Xcode and Font Book.

MacOS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Do you consider Apple TV is relatively new? Guess what, the fifth operating system from Apple was released in April 2005, giving birth to it! Tiger was an important upgrade. VoiceOver, Automator, Spotlight search, and about 200 additional upgrades are included in this version.  Apple also moved to use Intel processors about this time, making Tiger the first Mac operating system to use Intel CPUs.

MacOS X 10.5 (Leopard)

One of the most revolutionary Mac operating systems, Leopard, is here. This time, Stacks, a new menu bar, and Dock drastically alter the Mac desktop. Additionally, Time Machine, Spotlight upgrades, and 64-bit program support are included. Leopard included so many innovations that Apple really had to postpone the intended release date in order to complete everything on time.

MacOS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

Snow Leopard is the Leopard’s replacement was released on August 28, 2009. It concentrated on extending 64-bit architecture. The majority of native apps have been converted to 64-bit code. That was the first step toward a full transformation, as experts predicted back then and as we now know to be true. The Snow Leopard period also saw the creation of the App Store.

MacOS X 10.7 (Lion)

Apple adds a tonne of beneficial improvements from iOS to Mac OS with Lion. Launchpad, multi-touch gestures, and more. The so-called “natural scrolling” feature in Mac OS X 10.7, which causes the material to move up when you scroll down, was disliked by many users, which is interesting. Back then, it seemed more natural to have the content move down — as Windows did it.

OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)

Important iOS apps like Notes, Reminders, and Messages make Mac a more welcoming place to manage your daily routine. The Notification Center, which conveys changes via on-screen banners, is Mountain Lion’s most significant update. Its release date was July 25, 2012.

OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)

The tenth operating system introduces a lot of privacy features, with a primary emphasis on password storage and encryption. At this point, iCloud Keychain appears. Additionally, OS X 10.9 updates Notification Center by enabling users to reply directly from notifications, as well as introduces new Maps, iBooks, and Tags. Its first appearance was on October 22, 2013.

OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)

Yosemite was released on October 16, 2014. This is the biggest design in a long time. From little adjustments like thin typefaces and fresh color palettes to a significant move toward flat visual design, which better complements iOS’s design.  Additionally, Yosemite features Continuity and Kickoff return. This reaffirms Apple’s commitment to developing a superior cross-device experience in the future.

OS X 10.11 (EI Capitan)

El Capitan’s significant performance improvement makes it quicker, better, and stronger than the previous operating systems. For instance, opening apps is 40% faster than on older systems. Additionally, this is the year that Split View’s dual-pane debuts, presenting fresh options for Mac window management. Its release date was September 30, 2015.

MacOS 12 (Sierra)

Apple switched to the MacOS with Sierra with its release on September 20, 2016. More iOS benefits are added, including the ability to unlock a Mac using an Apple watch. Additionally, a new storage optimization feature has been included with thorough storage analysis.

MacOS 13 (High Sierra)

The enhanced version of Apple’s predecessor file system HFS+ is the Apple File System. It is the addition of a new video standard called HEIC. Apart from that, there are a few minor improvements in Mail, photo, and Safari. It first appeared on September 25, 2017.  

MacOS  14 (Mojave)

When everything turns gloomy, Dark Mode. Mac users may now go about their daily activities while the color of the screen flows along with them, thanks to the Dynamic Desktop feature. It was released on September 24, 2018. Stocks, News, and Home are just a few of the iOS apps that were becoming available.

MacOS 15 (Catalina)

With the release of macOS Catalina on October 7, 2019, iTunes is no longer available. It has been replaced by three specialized apps: Music, Podcasts, and Movies. With Sidecar, a feature that lets you link an iPad screen to your Mac. And the capacity for developers to move iOS apps to macOS, Apple continues to converge iOS and macOS.

MacOS 11 (Big Sur)

Big Sur requires a more grand version number- 11.0. So there is no macOS 10.16. Apple’s M1 Macs will experience a significant architectural change and transition thanks to macOS Big Sur. The so-called Universal applications are the first operating system to support running iOS apps natively on a Mac. It first came into existence on November 19, 2020.

MacOS 12 (Monterey)

With the introduction of Shortcuts in macOS Monterey on October 25, 2021. You can automate your workflow by setting up quick actions across various apps. In addition, Universal Control, a seamless transition between your Mac and iOS devices (you can, for instance, move your cursor between a Mac and an iPad), a redesigned Safari with tab groups, and a number of cool FaceTime improvements are included.

MacOS 13 (Ventura)

The latest version of Mac is Ventura.  Stage Manager, a new feature in macOS Ventura, brings about a significant interface change. Although Stage Manager is optional, many users will set it as their default because it makes switching between tasks and workspaces easy. Basically, Stage Manager arranges open windows into stacks and positions them on the left side of the screen. Other goodies from Ventura? Undo Send in Mail, the Continuity Camera, and more.

It’s a Wrap!

Hope you have got interesting information on different versions of Mac operating systems. Every version has its unique features. Kindly share your favorite one in the comments!

If you want to download Microsoft office on Mac then check out the How to Download Microsoft Office on Mac.