macOS Sonoma for Intel-Powered Macs Won't Include Features Like Presenter Overlay, Game Mode and More

Older Mac models powered by Intel chips won't have access to the shortened "Siri" wake word.

Written by Nithya P Nair, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 7 June 2023 14:57 IST

macOS Sonoma for Intel-Powered Macs Won't Include Features Like Presenter Overlay, Game Mode and More

Photo Credit: Apple

macOS Sonoma's Game Mode requires Apple Silicon chip

Highlights

Intel-powered Macs won't support the new Presenter Overlay feature
MFi-certified hearing devices can pair directly with Apple Silicon Macs
macOS Sonoma adds a high-performance mode to the Screen Sharing app

macOS Sonoma was recently unveiled as Apple's latest desktop operating system update at WWDC 2023. The next version of macOS will bring several UI improvements, options for personalisation, and interactive widgets to eligible Mac models later this year. However, some of these new features like Presenter Overlay, Reactions, and Game Mode are limited to Macs with Apple Silicon. Mac Models with Intel processors under the hood also won't have access to the short "Siri" trigger announced by Apple. Users have to wait until Q3 2023 when the company rolls out the update to their computers.

Apple has designed a few features of macOS Sonoma exclusive for Macs with Apple Silicon, which won't be available on older models that are equipped with Intel CPUs. Here are the features that will require M1 or M2 chips when macOS Sonoma is rolled out later this year.

Presenter Overlay

Presenter Overlay is a fresh feature on macOS Sonoma for video conferencing. This video effect adds your video to the conversation while you are sharing your screen. You can choose from two overlays — large and small. The large overlay keeps the spotlight on the user. Intel-powered Macs will not support the Presenter Overlay functionality.

Apple Unveils WatchOS 10 With Widgets, Mental Health Tracking Abilities

Screen Sharing

macOS Sonoma adds a new high-performance mode to the Screen Sharing app and this new feature works on recent Mac models powered by an Apple silicon chip. It uses the advanced media engine on Apple's in-house chips to enable highly responsive remote access over high-bandwidth connections. It delivers low-latency audio, and high frame rates, and supports up to two virtual displays. This feature will not available on Intel-powered Mac models.

React with your hands

During video calls, Reactions allow users to add 3D-augmented reality effects like hearts, confetti, fireworks, and more to the screen. With macOS 14 Sonoma, users can share a reaction with just a hand gesture. This feature will only be available on Mac computers with Apple's chips.

Apple Introduces New Features With iOS 17: All Details Here

Game Mode

macOS Sonoma's new Game Mode requires an Apple Silicon SoC. This special mode offers consistent frame rates by prioritising gaming tasks for the CPU and GPU. It also lowers audio latency with AirPods and reduces input latency with game controllers like Xbox and PlayStation by doubling the Bluetooth sampling rate. Compatible game controllers work with selected games and are sold separately.

Shortened "Siri" wake word

The newly abbreviated wake word "Siri" can be used with Apple Silicon-equipped Macs and AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Made-for-iPhone hearing devices can pair directly with Apple Silicon Macs such as 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021), 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021), Mac Studio (2022), and Mac computers with M2 chip.

Apple's annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company's first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we're looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021 Laptop

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Value for Money

Good
Excellent, crisp 120Hz display
Powerful M1 Pro or M1 Max processor
Very good battery life
Good speakers and webcam
Relatively light and portable

Bad
Very expensive
Notch causes minor software bugs
Hardware is not upgradeable

Read detailed Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021 review

Display size 14.20-inch

Display resolution 3024x1964 pixels

Touchscreen No

Processor Apple M1 Pro

RAM 16GB

OS macOS

SSD 512GB

Weight 1.60 kg

More Apple Laptops

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 Laptop

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display size 16.20-inch

Display resolution 3546x2234 pixels

Touchscreen No

Processor Apple M1 Pro

RAM 16GB

OS macOS

SSD 512GB

Weight 2.10 kg

More Apple Laptops

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: MacOS Sonoma, MacOS Sonoma Features, MacOS Sonoma Update, MacOS, Intel, WWDC 2023, Apple, Apple Silicon

Nithya P Nair

Email Nithya P Nair

Nithya P Nair is a journalist with more than five years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in business and technology beats. A foodie at heart, Nithya loves exploring new places (read cuisines) and sneaking in Malayalam movie dialogues to spice up conversations. More