Apple has officially released the RC (Release Candidate) beta for macOS Sequoia 15.3, marking the final stretch before the software’s public launch. This update, primarily focused on Apple Intelligence features, introduces new features and tweaks that promise to improve the user experience across supported Macs.
A significant highlight of macOS 15.3 is the arrival of Genmoji, an Apple Intelligence feature first introduced in iOS 18.2. Genmoji enables users to create custom emojis by combining figures or typing descriptive prompts, such as “a cat with sunglasses.” These personalized emojis can be used across Messages and other compatible apps, expanding creative communication options for Mac users. For those unfamiliar with this feature, tutorials are already available online to help users get started with Genmoji.
The update also addresses ongoing issues with Apple Intelligence’s notification summaries, which have faced criticism for inaccuracies. With macOS 15.3, Apple has made summarized notifications more identifiable by italicizing their text and temporarily disabling summaries for certain News and Entertainment apps.
Additional refinements include updates to the Calculator app, which now repeats the last operation when the equals sign is pressed again, and new management tools for notification summaries accessible directly from the Lock Screen on Macs with Apple silicon.
Beta testing for macOS 15.3 has been relatively swift, with the first RC build (24D60) released shortly after the third beta iteration. Alongside this update, Apple has also issued RC versions for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3, and visionOS 2.3, each introducing various fixes and incremental improvements. While macOS 15.3 focuses on delivering features like Genmoji, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 are relatively lighter updates, with some references to a new “Invites” app intended to streamline meeting scheduling.
The official release of macOS 15.3 is anticipated within a week, likely around January 27, unless a subsequent RC addresses any last-minute issues. For now, developers and public beta testers can explore the new features and enhancements to provide final feedback before the public rollout.
