2025 Mac Review: A Year of Disbelief

The past year has been a period of significant transformation for the Mac ecosystem, marked by the introduction of new hardware and software iterations. The transition to Apple Silicon continued to mature, with the M4 series chips becoming the standard across the desktop and portable lineup.

This hardware evolution was accompanied by the release of macOS 15 Sequoia, which brought new features but also introduced a range of bugs and performance issues that frustrated many users. Alongside these developments, the community observed a notable shift in Apple's approach to security, particularly with the controversial rollout of 'Pegasus Protection' features that initially hampered third-party security tools.

The year also saw the Mac platform reaching a milestone of 15 years since the introduction of the Mac App Store, prompting reflection on its evolution. Overall, the narrative is one of powerful hardware being somewhat let down by software stability and increasingly restrictive policies.

The year was defined by the continued and rapid evolution of Apple Silicon. The M4 family of chips was introduced and swiftly rolled out across the entire Mac lineup, from the iMac to the MacBook Pro and Mac mini. This marked a significant step in performance and efficiency, solidifying the platform's direction.

Key hardware updates included:

• The launch of the M4 iMac in the spring, featuring a redesigned stand and improved connectivity.
• The release of M4 Pro and M4 Max chips in the MacBook Pro line, offering substantial gains in GPU and Neural Engine performance.
• A complete overhaul of the Mac mini, which shrank in size to become more akin to an Apple TV puck, now featuring M4 and M4 Pro options.

These releases cemented Apple's control over its hardware stack, delivering machines that were consistently faster and more power-efficient than their Intel-based predecessors. The transition, once a point of uncertainty, now appears to be a settled and dominant success for the company.

While hardware milestones were celebrated, the software side of the Mac experience presented a more complicated picture. The release of macOS 15 Sequoia was met with a wave of user feedback regarding stability and bugs. Many users reported that this was one of the buggiest macOS releases in recent memory.

Common complaints included:

• Wi-Fi connectivity issues that persisted across multiple point updates.
• Performance degradation in the Finder and other core applications.
• Graphical glitches and window management problems.

In response to the volume of issues, Apple extended its beta testing period for subsequent updates, a move seen as an attempt to regain user trust. The experience highlighted a growing tension between the rapid pace of annual releases and the need for a stable, reliable operating system for professional users.

A major point of contention throughout the year was Apple's implementation of Pegasus Protection. Intended to shield users from sophisticated spyware, the feature initially broke compatibility with many essential security and diagnostic tools, including those used by researchers and IT professionals. This decision caused widespread disruption and criticism from the security community.

The controversy centered on how the protection was enforced. Rather than being an opt-in feature, it was applied broadly, preventing legitimate applications from accessing system logs and other critical data. Apple eventually released a fix, but the initial rollout damaged the company's reputation for prioritizing user privacy and security in a balanced way. The incident underscored the difficult balance between locking down a system for safety and maintaining the openness required for advanced troubleshooting and research.

The broader Mac community, particularly on platforms like Hacker News, engaged in deep reflection on the state of the platform. A significant topic of discussion was the 15th anniversary of the Mac App Store, which launched alongside the original iPad. Users and developers debated its role, with many noting that while it provided a convenient and secure way to install software, it had failed to become the primary distribution channel for many professional applications.

Discussions also focused on the MacBook Pro keyboard saga, with the year serving as a reminder of the 'butterfly' keyboard's failures and the eventual return to a more reliable scissor-switch mechanism. The collective sentiment was one of appreciation for the hardware's power, coupled with a cautious and sometimes critical eye toward Apple's software and policy decisions. The community remains a vital part of the Mac ecosystem, providing feedback and analysis that shapes the conversation around the platform's future.