MacOS Monterey vs. Big Sur: What’s the Difference in 2024?

Page content:

• macOS Big Sur
• macOS Monterey
• Monterey vs. Big Sur – Should You Upgrade?
• Bonus Tip: Protect Your Data After macOS Update

Apple's latest macOS, Monterey, released in October 2021, is considered to be one of the most significant ones with a lot of new features. Apple Monterey will replace macOS Big Sur. But wait, should you upgrade to the latest version? Is it worth it? Does Monterey have enough features to make it an excellent choice for an upgrade? Let's try and do a Monterey vs Big Sur comparison. This will help you decide if it's the right time to update your macOS or if you should wait.

macOS Big Sur

macOS Big Sur had quite a few stability issues when it was first released. However, these were quickly addressed through appropriate optimizations. The Big Sur update was initially released on November 12, 2020, and was the first update to support both Intel Macs and the new "Apple Silicon" Macs. It offered a fast, stable, and visually appealing version of the operating system.

The Big Sur update brings subtle yet significant improvements to the macOS experience. With Big Sur, you'll notice the most striking change is how it transforms the interface. It's now more user-friendly and intuitive than ever before.

Progress is being made on:

- A clean, attractive look. - New features in apps like Safari, Messages, and Maps. - An improved Notification Center. - A complete redesign of the operating system.

Aside from new features, you might find omissions in this update. There are no contrast or transparency controls of note. The touchscreen layout has seen improvements, but there are still no touchscreen options.

A Simple Guide: Get Older Versions of macOS

Want to install an older version of macOS? Here's how to get older macOS so you can downgrade and run multiple versions on your system!

macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey was released in June 2021 and is now the current version for most Mac devices. Compared to Big Sur, you'll find that the Monterey update is smaller in size. However, it comes with several new features worth checking out.

One significant improvement introduced with Monterey is Universal Control, which allows you to use a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard across multiple Mac devices. FaceTime now supports spatial audio, enhancing the experience and making the macOS smoother than ever. With seamless connectivity, functionality, and other features, it aims to provide an outstanding performance, making it one of the most distinctive and near-perfect choices for a fluid user experience.

Some of its features are:

• Updates to FaceTime, including SharePlay and spatial audio.
• Universal Control for accessing your devices across multiple Macs and iPads.
• A redesigned Safari browser.
• Enhanced privacy features.

MacOS Monterey vs Big Sur – Should You Upgrade?

Now that we've looked at the performance improvements in both the Monterey and Big Sur updates, let's look at whether you should upgrade to Monterey, or wait. We'll compare the features of each update point by point.

Compatibility

User Interface

The visual changes in Big Sur may be more significant. The Control Center now appears when your microphone is in use, so you can see what apps are accessing it. There's also a new and impressively polished Focus mode. These make Monterey feel like a relatively modest update.

FaceTime is a video-calling application developed by Apple that allows users to make face-to-face video calls over Wi-Fi or cellular data networks.

FaceTime got a fantastic update on Big Sur, and those updates have been polished to a more modern look and feel in Monterey. The latest additions aim to bring even more social fun to the table. Now, you can even invite people without Apple devices to join in.

"Notes App" can be translated to "Note-taking App" or "Notepad App".

The Memo app is another excellent feature that sees significant upgrades in Monterey. You can add notes to it from different apps and choose to tag your memos.

Performance

In terms of performance, there isn't much of a difference between Big Sur and Monterey. The jump isn't significant enough for you to upgrade solely for a performance boost.

MacOS Update vs Clean Install: Which One to Choose?

Any operating system slows down over time, and when the update comes, you wonder if a clean install is a better choice. In this guide, we'll share the differences between macOS upgrade and clean install, plus which one you should pick.

Additional Tip: Prevent Data Loss After macOS Update

Updating the operating system can be a tricky affair. If something goes wrong, you might run into issues like data loss. To prevent such problems, it's advisable to back up important data before updating, to avoid any risk of data loss.

"Time Machine" is the built-in backup tool for Mac computers. It automatically backs up important data, including applications, music, photos, mail, and documents.

To back up your data with Time Machine, follow these steps:

• Choose Backup from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar, or go to Apple > System Preferences > Time Machine and click Backup Now.
• Select the backup drive.

Select Use Disk. Time Machine will begin backing up your data regularly.

If you haven't backed up your Mac and lost data during the update, you can use tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover the lost data.

Step 1: Select the scanning location

Launch the Mac Data Recovery Wizard, select the hard drive, SSD, SD card, USB flash drive, or TF card from which you lost data. Click "Start to Find Lost Files" to begin scanning.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. The software can then recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer will be free to write new data.

Step 2. Filter Lost Mac Data

The software will automatically scan for lost data on your MacBook or iMac. Once the scan is complete, you can filter the required data using the "Type" and "Path" buttons.

Step 3: Recover Lost Data or Files

Preview the files and then click on the “Recover” button to save the lost data to another location.

It's your one-stop solution for efficient data recovery. It should be one of your go-to prominent options when you find yourself in need, whether that's after emptying the recycle bin, accidentally deleting something, or losing files for any other reason.

It could include some impressive features:

• Mac data recovery options can solve almost all data loss issues.
• It handles all data loss scenarios, including deletion without backups, formatting, virus attacks, system crashes, hardware failures, unexpected shutdowns, or human errors.
• Applicable to all data recovery needs, including Mac photo recovery, video recovery, and Mac audio recovery.
• Easy, fast, and free data recovery solution.
• Supports a wide range of file formats, such as DOC, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, JPG, JPEG, TIFF, TIF, PNG, AVI, MOV, MP4, MP3, and more.

Conclusions

If you're used to macOS, you'll find it's one of the best choices for a genuinely enhanced experience, with some of the most engaging and unique features. But the key question is, should you upgrade to Monterey or stick with Big Sur? The best choice is usually to update to the latest version.

If you experience any data loss during the upgrade, it's recommended that you rely on efficient data recovery solutions such as Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

Frequently asked questions about macOS Big Sur and Monterey

What if I still have issues? Read more questions and answers about macOS Big Sur or Monterey for help.

1. What is the latest version of macOS?

macOS Ventura is the 13th and latest version of macOS. It's the newest version of macOS.

**2. Is macOS Monterey better than macOS Ventura?**

Monterey vs Ventura: Both of these versions deliver solid performance, with Ventura having the edge over Monterey thanks to its optimized hardware support.

3. Will Monterey slow down my Mac?

Yes, updating your Mac to the macOS Monterey beta version might cause slower performance, as beta software is still in the testing phase and can have bugs and other issues.

4. Do I need to use both macOS Big Sur and Monterey?

If you're using an older version of macOS, it's recommended that you update to Monterey. There have been several improvements in macOS Monterey over Big Sur. For example, if you use a third-party antivirus app, you might need to consider updating to the new version of Monterey.