3 reasons I feel envious of Apple’s macOS in 2026.

      I have never been particularly fond of Apple's MacBook, but I must acknowledge that the platform has been making significant strides. Dealing with Windows has become increasingly frustrating, and Apple is advancing for all the right reasons. Although I still depend on Windows, mere familiarity is no longer sufficient.

      As we look to 2026, several conveniences in macOS seem less like luxury additions and more like basic features that Microsoft should have already implemented. The frustrating part is that Apple’s edge doesn’t always stem from sheer power or impressive AI. Much of the irritation arises from smaller, practical elements. These features can quietly save time, create a seamless experience, and make a computer feel as if it fits alongside the smartphone in your pocket.

      Sharing Wi-Fi passwords shouldn’t feel this good on a Mac.

      This is one that consistently impresses me. Apple allows you to share Wi-Fi passwords from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to another nearby Apple device almost instantaneously, as long as the devices are close and the accounts are set up correctly. I’ve observed others use this feature for years, and it feels like I’m missing out.

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      You can even share Wi-Fi passwords from a Mac to another Mac, iPhone, or iPad. It may seem like a minor feature, but it feels almost magical in the way modern computing should. Conversely, Windows still makes something so fundamental feel manual. You’re left relying on your memory. But in 2026, this is simply embarrassing.

      Universal Clipboard remains one of Apple's biggest advantages.

      Seamlessness is what you come to expect from the Apple ecosystem, and nothing illustrates this better than the Universal Clipboard feature. Copy something on your iPhone, and paste it onto your Mac. Copy an image from your Mac, and drop it into a message on your iPad. Apple’s Universal Clipboard sounds mundane until you experience it, at which point it becomes a feature you instantly miss when reverting to a less integrated setup.

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      Apple officially offers this across iPhone, iPad, and Mac as part of its Continuity framework. This is what keeps macOS in the lead. It makes the ecosystem of multiple devices feel like extensions of the same workspace. To be fair, Windows has improved significantly in linking to phones, but Apple still manages to make the handoff feel more seamless and natural.

      Unlocking your Mac with an Apple Watch is precisely the kind of laziness I admire.

      This might be the most quintessentially Apple feature on the list, and I mean this as a compliment. If you're wearing an unlocked Apple Watch, your Mac can automatically unlock when you wake it, and the watch can also approve password prompts and admin requests. Apple officially calls this Auto Unlock, and the convenience is clear.

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      Is it revolutionary? Probably not. Is it the type of effortless quality-of-life feature that elevates a platform to feel more premium and considerate? Definitely.

      Honorary Mention: Continuity Camera

      Apple's ability to turn an iPhone into a Mac webcam is one of those features that may seem gimmicky until you recognize its utility. Continuity Camera allows a Mac to utilize the iPhone’s superior camera system wirelessly or via USB, and Apple also offers some impressive features like Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and even Desk View.

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      You can also use the same Continuity feature to scan documents or take photos directly into Mac applications like Notes and Finder. Windows has made progress with native smartphone camera support through Phone Link, but it doesn’t pack as many features as Apple’s solution.

      My issue with macOS is that it consistently addresses the small annoyances that Windows does not.

      My envy ultimately stems from Apple regularly tackling everyday irritations before Microsoft does, and once those solutions are in place, it becomes more challenging to revert. Sharing Wi-Fi passwords, copying across devices, and unlocking your computer with a watch might not be enough on their own to make me switch from Windows immediately. However, together, they form a kind of convenience stack that feels frustratingly polished.