Big Sur vs Sonoma

macOS Big Sur and macOS Sonoma are both operating systems for Apple Mac computers. Sonoma was released more recently, so it has more modern features than Big Sur, including desktop widgets and Game Mode. Crucially, Sonoma still receives security updates from Apple, while Big Sur reached end of life in 2023.

Overview of macOS Big Sur and Sonoma

Released in 2020, Big Sur (macOS 11) was the 17th major version of macOS. Headline features include an overhauled Time Machine backup tool and a new Control Centre function. Big Sur was the first edition of macOS that worked with Apple’s new ARM-based processors, known as Apple Silicon chips. What came after Big Sur? After Big Sur, macOS Monterey and Ventura were released, followed by Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe.

macOS Sonoma (version 14) was the 20th major edition of macOS. It was released in 2023, replacing macOS Ventura. Sonoma was the first macOS that let you put widgets on your desktop. The lock screen was also redesigned, and Apple introduced Game Mode, allowing Macs to prioritize resources for gaming tasks. Sonoma was replaced by macOS Sequoia.

1. Performance and stability

macOS performance all depends on what kind of Mac you have and how you use it. Things to consider include:

• How old your Mac is.
• Whether you’ve upgraded your Mac’s RAM.
• How much disk space your Mac has left.
• What apps you run on your Mac.

With both Big Sur and Sonoma, some users have reported a performance drop after upgrading, while others say their Macs ran faster. This may be due to bugs or Spotlight indexing after the update. As long as your Mac meets the macOS Sonoma minimum requirements, you should upgrade.

A note from our experts: 

 

Whether you have macOS Sonoma or Big Sur, your Mac should run smoothly if it’s supported. If you do experience any issues, use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool to remove unnecessary junk that can hold you back.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup function:

1. Download and run MacKeeper.
2. Select Safe Cleanup from the left-hand side and click Start Scan.
3. When the scan is done, select what to delete.
4. Click Clean Junk Files.

2. Battery life and energy efficiency

With Big Sur, Apple replaced its Energy Saver tool in System Preferences with a new Battery section, giving you detailed information about your MacBook’s battery level and usage.

Some users have complained about increased battery drain after upgrading to Big Sur, but the same has been said about Sonoma too.

If you experience persistent energy drain after upgrading to Big Sur or Sonoma, we suggest looking at what background processes are running on your Mac.

3. App compatibility and developer support

There are a couple of key things to note about app compatibility for Big Sur and Sonoma.

Big Sur compatibility:

• The first macOS for Apple Silicon chips.
• Came with Rosetta 2 to allow Intel apps to run on M1 Macs.
• For developers, Big Sur introduced tools to make transitioning from Intel to Apple Silicon easier.

Sonoma compatibility:

• Support for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
• For developers, Apple released the Game Porting Toolkit to enable Windows games to be ported to macOS.

4. User interface and design

Apple described Big Sur as the biggest design change since the introduction of Mac OS X, while Sonoma was a more subtle evolution.

New design features in Big Sur:

• Transparency added throughout the OS.
• Streamlined Dock and Menu Bar.
• The first macOS with the Control Center interface.

Sonoma builds on what Big Sur started:

• More control over widgets, including what they look like and where they can be placed.
• Hide all windows by clicking on your desktop.
• Further refinements to icons and other UI elements.

5. New and improved features

Both Big Sur and Sonoma introduced some great new features.

New and improved in Big Sur:

• New Control Center, giving you quick access to screen brightness, Bluetooth, music controls, and more.
• Run iPad and iPhone apps on Apple Silicon.
• New versions of Maps, Safari, and Messages.

First seen in macOS Sonoma:

• Desktop widgets
• Improved screen sharing in video calls.
• Improvements to Messages and Safari.
• Game Mode was introduced.

6. Gaming and graphics performance

Macs have never prioritized gaming, but that doesn't mean Apple has forgotten about gamers completely.

Big Sur’s biggest gaming features:

• A revamped Game Center app for connecting multiplayer gamers.
• Access to iPadOS and iOS games.
• Enhanced social features for gamers.
• Improved game controller support.

Sonoma takes the gaming features up a notch:

• Game Mode designed to take full advantage of Apple Silicon processing power. When your Mac detects a compatible game, Game Mode will get your GPU and CPU to prioritize the game for better performance.
• A game porting toolkit to help developers bring titles to macOS.
• Overall improved gaming performance.

7. Privacy and security enhancements

Every edition of macOS includes privacy and security enhancements.

Privacy in Big Sur:

• A new Privacy Report feature to protect you from online trackers.
• Data breach password monitoring
• Greater data transparency and control.
• A new cryptographic technology called signed system volume (SSV).

Privacy in Sonoma:

• Lockdown Mode—an extreme protection option for the most sophisticated, targeted attacks.
• More privacy features for Safari, like private browsing windows that automatically lock when you walk away from your Mac.

8. Device compatibility and usage scenarios

You can run Big Sur if your Mac is covered by this list:

• MacBook (2015 or later)
• MacBook Air (2013 or later)
• MacBook Pro (late 2013 or later)
• Mac mini (2014 or later)
• iMac (2014 or later)
• iMac Pro (2017 or later)
• Mac Pro (2013 or later)

macOS Sonoma works with these Macs:

• iMac (2019 and later)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2018 and later)
• Mac Mini (2018 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)
• Mac Studio (all models)

Performance will vary, of course, depending on how powerful your Mac is and what you use it for. Macs with dedicated graphics cards will usually run games better, even with older machines.

You’ll also need enough disk space to install and run macOS. For more information, read how much space does macOS take.

9. Integration with Apple ecosystem

Apple Macs are increasingly integrated with other Apple devices.

Big Sur integrations:

• Compatibility with iOS and iPadOS apps.
• Smart Folders automatically group Apple Watch recordings and favorites.
• Use Maps on your Mac to plan a trip and send it directly to your iPhone.

Sonoma gives you everything in Big Sur and more:

• Custom stickers in Messages.
• Improved dictation functionality.
• Predictive text in apps.

Which is better: Big Sur or Sonoma?

macOS Sonoma is better than Big Sur because it offers more features, an improved user interface, and better security. If you have an older Mac and experience performance issues with a new version of macOS, you could try downgrading to Ventura or Monterey. However, you should always try to run the newest macOS version that your Mac supports. With the latest macOS version, you will get new features and security support for longer.

Do what’s best for your Mac

So Big Sur vs Sonoma—which is best? There are several years and a few macOS versions between these operating systems, so we can’t see many good reasons to run Big Sur. Although Big Sur was a huge leap forward for macOS, Apple has made many major improvements since then. To see what we mean, read our comparison of Ventura vs Sonoma.

If your Mac has performance issues after upgrading to Sonoma or any other version of macOS, try MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup for a quick performance boost. MacKeeper from Clario Tech is a fully Apple-notarized app designed to secure, optimize, and clean your Mac in minutes. Give it a try today.