Eliana Willis

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETI woke up this morning to see that little indication in my Apple iMac menu that an update was available. The update was for MacOS Sequoia 15.4.1. This update was actually released on April 16, and I had already run it on my MacBook (completely ignoring my iMac). Well, this morning I shrugged off the night’s sleep and noticed the alert on the iMac, so I approved the installation.Also: MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air: How to choose the Apple laptop that’s right for youKeep in mind, this is a point release (also known as a maintenance release), which means there is nothing major to be found. However, point releases are important because they almost always fix issues and improve performance. Who doesn’t want that? I immediately ran the upgrade on the iMac I use for video editing. As my iMac was updating, I realized I should let everyone know about this latest release, even if it is almost two weeks old (which is like two years in the digital age).What’s new in MacOS 15.4.1?Although this maintenance release does not include any showstopping features, there are plenty of improvements, fixes, and enhancements. Let’s take a look at some of the more important changes.1. Critical security fixes It might not be exciting, but security fixes are probably the most important change for any operating system update. Given how crucial security has become, any opportunity to update and improve your chances of not being hacked or having your privacy invaded should be seen as a must. With Sequoia 15.4.1, two zero-day vulnerabilities were patched: CoreAudio (CVE-2025-31200): Fixed a memory corruption issue that could allow code execution via malicious audio files.RPAC (CVE-2025-31201): Patched a flaw allowing attackers to bypass Pointer Authentication, which is a critical security safeguard.Other security patches were added to Safari and the MacOS kernel to close exploits that would allow for unauthorized access to data and/or tracking. Also: 8 simple ways Mac users can better protect their privacyFinally, the privacy controls for microphone and camera access, and an issue with the menu bar privacy indicator, were patched. 2. Performance This is probably one of the first things you will notice with 15.4.1. I certainly did.App launch times on Apple Silicon Macs have been cut down by 15%. My iMac is a shabby Intel-based machine, but I can attest (thanks to my aging M1 MacBook) that apps start faster. Although 15% might seem negligible, it is actually noticeable. Even non-Apple apps launch more quickly. I noticed this when I started LibreOffice on my MacBook. That is a nice addition, given how LibreOffice has typically been slow to launch on MacOS. Also: I’m a MacOS power user, and this window snapping app clobbers the built-in toolTo go along with the performance improvements, battery life for MacBooks has also been improved, which happened by way of background process optimizations. This is another change I noticed pretty quickly. My old M1 MacBook Pro battery is starting to show signs of age, but after using 15.4.1 for nearly two weeks, I have noticed the battery does have a bit of extra “life” to it. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Light Phone 3 is available now with support from many major carriers for $599. It’s setting a new standard for simplified phones by combining a sleek, minimal product with a focused purpose. I wish the battery lasted longer, there are still some features in development, and it’s not exactly cheap. […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The LG C5 OLED boosts dazzling brightness and color. It features an ultra-slim body, with material choices that evoke premium. It’s priced relatively high for the nominal upgrades over last year’s model. more buying choices I would argue that the most crucial aspect of any television set is its picture quality. […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The magnetic USB-C connector now supports a 180-degree swivel, and it’s only $13 at Amazon. It can pump out as much as 240W of power. I just wish it was suitable for data transferring or powering monitors. –> These handy 240W USB-C magnetic adapters<!–> come in a two-pack and are on sale for […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The adhesive is strong, durable, and flexible, making it suitable for sealing up electronics. It can be applied with great precision, which means there is no mess. The instructions are terrible; luckily, the product is easy to use. –> What you need is an adhesive that is strong, flexible, and long-lasting, […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Amazfit Bip 6 is available for just $79.99 in Black, Charcoal, Stone, and Red The watch is sleek and light, lasts up to 14 days, has a brilliant AMOLED display, measures an extensive amount of data, and supports just about every activity you can think of The app store is […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Solix F3800 is a huge portable power station for $4,000, but on sale with a 30% off on Amazon. Its massive 6,000W output (9,000W surge) is more than enough energy to run the biggest home appliances with power to spare. The package is heavy at 130 pounds, but thanks to […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i is on sale for $2,199 I highly recommend it to people looking for a laptop with top-performing hardware, a vibrant screen, and a high-quality webcam However, because of its limited port selection, some might find its usability limited without supplementary accessories. –> Work laptops don’t have […] More