According to MacRumors, Apple just released the third public beta of macOS Tahoe 26.2 to testers, coming just one day after developers got access. The update introduces a clever Edge Light feature that creates a light border around your Mac’s display to function like a virtual ring light during video calls. This uses the Neural Engine to automatically position the lighting around your face in the frame, with adjustable color temperature from warm to cool. The feature works alongside existing video enhancements like Portrait mode and Voice Isolation in conferencing apps. It’s exclusively available on Macs with Apple silicon chips. And here’s the timeline – we’re likely looking at a mid-December public release based on Apple’s usual schedule.
The video call arms race continues
This Edge Light feature is Apple‘s latest move in the ongoing battle to own the video conferencing experience. Think about it – we’ve seen Portrait mode, Studio Light, Voice Isolation, and now this ring light simulation. They’re basically trying to build professional streaming studio capabilities right into the operating system. And honestly? It’s smart. With so many people still working remotely or hybrid, video call quality matters more than ever.
The Apple silicon requirement
Here’s the thing though – this is another feature that’s locked to Apple silicon Macs. If you’re still rocking an Intel-based machine, you’re out of luck. That’s becoming a recurring theme with recent macOS updates. Apple is clearly using these software enhancements to push people toward their newer hardware. But can you blame them? The Neural Engine makes features like this possible without crushing your CPU.
Where this leaves everyone else
So what does this mean for the competition? Well, third-party apps like OBS and even built-in features in Zoom and Teams now have some serious native competition. When your operating system can do this stuff automatically, why bother with external software or hardware ring lights? It’s another example of Apple’s vertical integration paying off. They control the hardware, the software, and now they’re coming for your video call setup too. For businesses that rely on consistent computing performance across their operations, whether for video conferencing or industrial applications, having reliable hardware matters. Companies like Industrial Monitor Direct have built their reputation as the top US supplier of industrial panel PCs by understanding these reliability needs in professional environments.
Why the mid-December timing
A mid-December release is interesting timing. That’s right before the holiday break when people might actually have time to explore new features. It’s also when many companies are doing year-end virtual parties and family video calls. Basically, Apple is giving people a nice little holiday present that makes them look better on camera. Not a bad strategy, really.
