macOS Tahoe 26.2 Beta 2 Introduces Edge Light and UI Refinements

Apple has released macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 2 to developers on November 12, 2025, bringing with it a notable array of new features and significant refinements. The highlight of this particular update is the introduction of "Edge Light," a new video-calling enhancement specifically designed for Apple silicon Macs.

Edge Light: Illuminating Video Calls

The Edge Light feature offers a virtual ring light directly on your Mac’s screen. This innovation is engineered to brighten your face during video calls on popular platforms such as FaceTime and Zoom. Users can access Edge Light from the menu bar, conveniently located alongside other existing video effects like Backgrounds and Portrait mode.

A key aspect of Edge Light is its robust customization options. Users have the flexibility to adjust both the brightness and the color temperature, allowing for a spectrum from warm to cool tones, effectively mimicking professional LED lighting setups. The effect subtly overlays your desktop and open windows, yet it intelligently fades when your mouse pointer approaches, ensuring screen visibility isn't compromised.

This enhancement leverages the Mac’s Neural Engine and Image Signal Processor to detect your face and dynamically adjust brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. Edge Light is exclusive to Apple silicon Macs. Furthermore, models released in 2024 and later will be able to enable this feature automatically in low-light environments. Beyond brightness and temperature, users can fine-tune the effect’s intensity and thickness, making it highly adaptable for various scenarios.

Broader System Enhancements and App Updates

Beyond the headline-grabbing Edge Light, macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 2 delivers several other meaningful updates across the operating system. The Freeform app, for instance, has been updated, with a new splash screen introducing tables to enhance collaborative workspaces. This updated splash screen now adopts a more modern "Introducing X" style, moving away from the previous "What's New" format.

Interface refinements are also immediately noticeable. Context menus and various backgrounds now feature increased transparency, allowing users to perceive more of what lies beneath them. This change offers a departure from the earlier blur effect and contributes to an overall improvement in interface clarity. Moreover, the Launchpad has received an enhancement, now supporting a full-screen mode that effectively hides the dock. This feature, a response to user requests, aims to provide a more immersive app browsing experience.

The Reminders app has also gained a practical new function, enabling users to set alarms to sound precisely when a reminder is due. Furthermore, the News app has undergone design updates, although specific details regarding these changes are still emerging at this time.

Performance, Compatibility, and Reception

Edge Light’s exclusivity to Apple silicon Macs underscores Apple’s continued focus on leveraging its custom silicon for advanced features. While automatic activation in low-light conditions is reserved for 2024+ models, all Apple silicon Macs will support the manual activation of Edge Light. As of this beta release, no specific performance metrics or benchmarks have been publicly released. It’s also confirmed that there have been no changes to official pricing or hardware requirements, with macOS updates remaining free for supported Macs. The public release of these features is expected later in 2025.

Initial feedback from professional reviewers has been positive, particularly praising Edge Light’s smart implementation and customization, noting its significant utility for remote work and video conferencing, especially as seasonal daylight hours decrease. Users have also expressed appreciation for the new UI transparency and the full-screen Launchpad mode, often citing them as long-awaited improvements. While these updates are well-received, some users are reportedly still awaiting new ringtones, which could potentially be introduced in future updates.