What’s New in macOS Tahoe Safari? Here’s Your Ultimate List
From Liquid Glass design and web app support to faster performance, stronger privacy, SVG icons, and HDR image support, see what’s new in macOS Tahoe Safari.
The release of macOS Tahoe has brought some exciting changes to Safari, Apple’s native web browser. In addition to improved loading speed, as Apple calls Safari the world’s fastest browser, users are experiencing an array of changes, including a revamped tab layout, enhanced privacy options, and design overhauls in the beta version.
If you're wondering what changes macOS Tahoe brings to Safari, from a brand-new look to web app support, here’s everything you need to know.
1. Liquid Glass Design in macOS Tahoe Safari
Apple's Liquid Glass design has brought a fresh aesthetic to macOS Tahoe, and this translucent interface applies to Safari as well. This glass-like material behaves just like real glass, reflecting the light and color from behind, offering users a dynamic and immersive interface.
In the new Safari, this liquid glass design is evident in elements such as the address bar, toolbars, and tabs. As you browse through pages, the Safari interface subtly adjusts and reflects the colors and light from the content you’re viewing, creating an immersive effect. You can also expect the same Safari change in iOS 26.
2. Compact Tab Might Be History
One of the most controversial changes in Safari in macOS Tahoe is the lack of a compact tab layout. In previous versions, the compact tab layout made it easier to browse by saving screen space. With a minimalist design, users could see more tabs at once.
However, with macOS Tahoe, Apple has removed the compact tabs feature, opting for a more traditional layout where the URL bar is at the top, and tabs sit beneath it. The new tab layouts now appear as distinct, rounded elements, making them easier to see and switch between.
Plus, the updated sidebar brings together iCloud Tabs, Saved items, and Shared With You content, giving you a more organized way to access everything in one place. Unfortunately, Apple has not mentioned anything about vertical tabs in Safari 26.
3. Anti-fingerprinting & Link Tracking Protection
Privacy has long been a central pillar of Safari, and with Safari 26 on macOS Tahoe, Apple has expanded its protections with a stronger defense against fingerprinting and link tracking to keep your browsing safer than ever.
Safari 26 now blocks known fingerprinting scripts from accessing sensitive system information, such as:
- Screen size and hardware details
- Available voices through the SpeechSynthesis API
- Apple Pay capabilities
- Web audio readback and 2D canvas data
By cutting off these data points, Safari prevents websites from building a unique ‘fingerprint’ of your device that could be used to track you across the internet.
Another upgrade is the automatic removal of tracking parameters from URLs. Originally available only in Private Browsing mode, this feature now applies across all browsing sessions. It strips out unnecessary query parameters that advertisers use for cross-site tracking, giving you cleaner URLs and greater peace of mind.
4. Faster Performance
For the new Safari 26 on macOS Tahoe, Apple highlights Safari’s ability to load frequently visited websites up to 50% faster than Chrome. From user feedback, the performance edge is particularly visible when juggling multiple tabs or navigating websites heavy with dynamic content.
On Apple Silicon Macs, Safari in macOS Tahoe offers up to four extra hours of video playback compared to Chrome when streaming 1080p content. For users who spend long sessions watching Netflix, YouTube, or Apple TV+, Safari is clearly the more battery-friendly option.
Beyond raw speed and playback time, Safari 26 also improves memory management and background tab efficiency. Websites that rely on heavy scripts run more smoothly, while inactive tabs consume fewer resources.
To keep Safari running at peak speed, it’s always a good idea to regularly clear out cached files, cookies, and other temporary data. One efficient way to do this is by using BuhoCleaner. It helps you:
- Quickly clean up Safari cache and browsing data
- Free up valuable system storage
- Optimize overall Mac performance without manually digging through settings
By maintaining a lighter, cleaner browser, you can maximize the performance improvements of Safari in any version.
5. SVG Icons & HRD Image Support
In terms of visual enhancement, macOS Tahoe Safari introduces SVG icon support across the browser interface, from tabs and menus to the start page and Dock. Unlike traditional PNG favicons, SVG files scale infinitely without losing sharpness, ensuring icons look crisp at any size. They’re also typically smaller in file size, which helps webpages load faster.
Alongside this, Safari 26 now supports HDR images on the web, allowing websites to display photos and graphics with richer contrast, deeper blacks, and brighter highlights. This is especially impactful for media-heavy sites, as HDR creates more lifelike visuals compared to standard dynamic range images.
6. Web App Support
With macOS Tahoe Safari 26, any website can now be turned into a web app with just a few clicks. By tapping the Share button in Safari and selecting Add to Dock, users can save a site directly to their Mac’s Dock for quick access. Once added, the site opens in its own standalone window that is separate from Safari.
7. What’s for Developers
For web developers, macOS Tahoe Safari introduces WebGPU support, allowing for better graphics and compute performance. This API gives developers more power to create resource-intensive applications and games. Plus, developers can now take advantage of new capabilities like improved WebAssembly performance, new web extensions for a customizable browsing experience, and so much more.
Conclusion: Should You Update?
Overall, macOS Tahoe Safari 26 delivers faster performance, stronger privacy, and a sleek new design. With features like Liquid Glass UI, anti-fingerprinting protection, web app support, and SVG/HDR enhancements, it’s a major step forward for Apple’s browser.
If you value a browser that blends performance, privacy, and modern design, then updating to macOS Tahoe Safari is absolutely worth it. However, the removal of compact tabs may be a big disappointment for some users.
👉🏻Related Article: 8 Things to Know Before Upgrading to macOS Tahoe 26
Clare Phang has been captivated by the world of Apple products since the launch of the iconic iPhone in 2007. With a wealth of experience, Clare is your go-to source for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and all things Apple.
