Is there a source that compares the performance between OS versions

[Marlo Morgan]

Hey everyone,

The MBA 2020 is my first macbook ever. I haven't downloaded the 10.15.6 and I'm on 10.15.5. As a long time PC users I'd like to know whether the new version decreases or increases the overall performance of my machine before updating.

It's always been the case with graphics drivers on PC, and there would always be resources comparing the newest driver version with the older ones in terms of performance. I've only noticed Geekbench but the interface of the website is horrible and there aren't any filtering options to compare similar models to mine.

Is the performance literally same between the same OS versions of catalina and does only the major patches introduce huge performance changes? I'm looking to use this laptop for many years to come so I'm a bit hesitant about updating straight to the latest version whenever it becomes available. If anyone could enlighten me with the best way to approach OS updates on a mac I'd be grateful. P.S. I always keep my iPhones on the latest version of their factory OS and avoid the next generation of iOS.

 

[Taz Mangus]

You might want to look into using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper! to create a bootable clone backup of your system. This way if you upgrade and find it is not working to your liking, you can revert back your system using the cloned copy of your system.

 

[kohlson]

I'm looking to use this laptop for many years to come so I'm a bit hesitant about updating straight to the latest version whenever it becomes available.

Wise choice. For people who are paid to get work done - large corporate employees - the rule of thumb is N-1.

Around macville, adventurous type will try the .0, .1, and .2 releases. More staid users wait until the last release - .6. For example, I like Mojave, and am only now considering Catalina - 10.15.6. Generally speaking, each of the dot releases are better than the last. There are exceptions.

IMHO, you want to stay in the security window. Apple issues security updates for the current and 2 previous releases.

Performance - seems cycle. For a release or so they will pile in new features, then dedicate a release to fixes and performance. As mentioned above, best practice is to have a complete clone before moving up. Downgrading after the fact can be done, but very time consuming.

But everyone has their own approach. For example, I consider one of the benefits of iOS is getting regular updates long past the original. Not an Android thing.

 

[Marlo Morgan]

Wise choice. For people who are paid to get work done - large corporate employees - the rule of thumb is N-1.

Around macville, adventurous type will try the .0, .1, and .2 releases. More staid users wait until the last release - .6. For example, I like Mojave, and am only now considering Catalina - 10.15.6. Generally speaking, each of the dot releases are better than the last. There are exceptions.

IMHO, you want to stay in the security window. Apple issues security updates for the current and 2 previous releases.

Performance - seems cycle. For a release or so they will pile in new features, then dedicate a release to fixes and performance. As mentioned above, best practice is to have a complete clone before moving up. Downgrading after the fact can be done, but very time consuming.

But everyone has their own approach. For example, I consider one of the benefits of iOS is getting regular updates long past the original. Not an Android thing.

Thank you for the detailed explanation, I'll do more reading on cloning. One more question I have is that, I know iPhones struggle with later iOS updates because they were designed for more advanced hardware, is this generally the case for macbooks, like is a 2015 macbook better-off with the a 2015 macOS operating system? I'm just trying to understand if there's a point where wearing down starts in terms of software like iPhoes

 

[Taz Mangus]

is this generally the case for macbooks, like is a 2015 macbook better-off with the a 2015 macOS operating system? I'm just trying to understand if there's a point where wearing down starts in terms of software like iPhoes

I run Catalina 10.15.6 on my 2015 13” MacBook Pro and it runs pretty well. It has been pretty stable for me. Mojave also worked very well. I suspect Big Sur will work well on my 2015 MacBook Pro which I will be looking to install after the release of the .4 or .5 release. I now wait several releases to for bugs to be resolved.

 

[Marlo Morgan]

I run Catalina 10.15.6 on my 2015 13” MacBook Pro and it runs pretty well. It has been pretty stable for me. Mojave also worked very well. I suspect Big Sur will work well on my 2015 MacBook Pro which I will be looking to install after the release of the .4 or .5 release. I now wait several releases to for bugs to be resolved.

It's nice to hear that your experience has been stable on multiple versions so far! Have you ever thought or believed your machine "felt" snappier on a previous release or anything similar?

 

[Taz Mangus]

It's nice to hear that your experience has been stable on multiple versions so far! Have you ever thought or believed your machine "felt" snappier on a previous release or anything similar?

If you are open not to running the latest version then Mojave is my suggestion. Catalina has a few quirks that Mojave does not. For one thing, logging in is faster in Mojave. Fast user switching is very slow in Catalina. Overall, Mojave is a bit better in a lot of ways vs. Catalina. With that said I do plan on using Big Sur. For one thing, I like the security measures that Apple is implementing in Big Sur such as the Signed System Volume.

 

[kohlson]

I know iPhones struggle with later iOS updates because they were designed for more advanced hardware,

Yes, that's true if the ios release is several notches later. I had an iPhone 6 and there was some release that slowed things down - the battery fiasco. They made it a little better with a later release, and a low-cost battery replacement. Ultimately they stop supporting phones after 4-5 releases. I know lots of people who run unsupported iOS on their phones. To each his own.

I run Mojave on my 2009 cMP. I am extremely happy with this release on this and my 2013 15-MBP. I'm not sure how to explain this wrt your question.

 

[Jack Neill]

OP stated they have a 2020 Air. I don’t think it can run anything older than 10.15.3 even if they wanted to.

 

[kohlson]

I think the OP stated that he likes to stick with the OS release that he gets, updating to the last dot release, and then sticking to it forever and ever. I'm not sure I fully understand that thinking, and pointed out that my Macs would be useless and pretty close to useless if I followed that approach.

I disagree with the notion that the best OS/ios is the one that came with the system originally. I say this with 35 years experience in product marketing and product management at many companies in Silicon Valley. At no time did management say: Now that we have the hardware perfected, would the OS people please take a few months and optimize the OS? Or vice versa. Instead it's an all-out race to meet deadlines, screaming those $%^^#@ over in hardware/software - can you believe it. Every contention settled with "but does it work?" and an agreement to fix it in the next rev. This continues to happen through several major and minor releases until a shinier object comes into view. Then everyone moves on.

MBAs are awesome laptops. They last for years - at least that's been the track record so far. In 5 years time, when Macos XX (tm) is here, and your bank no longer accepts browser sessions running under 10.15...well, the logical thing is to upgrade the OS.

But that's just me. YMMV.

 

[Marlo Morgan]

I think the OP stated that he likes to stick with the OS release that he gets, updating to the last dot release, and then sticking to it forever and ever. I'm not sure I fully understand that thinking, and pointed out that my Macs would be useless and pretty close to useless if I followed that approach.

I disagree with the notion that the best OS/ios is the one that came with the system originally. I say this with 35 years experience in product marketing and product management at many companies in Silicon Valley. At no time did management say: Now that we have the hardware perfected, would the OS people please take a few months and optimize the OS? Or vice versa. Instead it's an all-out race to meet deadlines, screaming those $%^^#@ over in hardware/software - can you believe it. Every contention settled with "but does it work?" and an agreement to fix it in the next rev. This continues to happen through several major and minor releases until a shinier object comes into view. Then everyone moves on.

MBAs are awesome laptops. They last for years - at least that's been the track record so far. In 5 years time, when Macos XX (tm) is here, and your bank no longer accepts browser sessions running under 10.15...well, the logical thing is to upgrade the OS.

But that's just me. YMMV.

Valid points overall. I guess I'm just a bit more obsessed with using the best software in terms of performance as opposed to opting-in for the latest one. I understand that the main performance comparisons tend to be between big updates, and asking if there's a performance different between small updates like 10.15.5 and 10.15.6 is sort of pointless in terms of Macbooks go.

Just wanted to share my main take aways from all of the replies ^^. I'll be checking out performance comparisons as Big Sur advances through the later stages of developments and make a call if it's better or at least similar in terms of performance!