macOS 15.4: Smarter Mail, But Does It Really Work?
Your Mac is getting another update. macOS 15.4 promises to simplify your digital life with smarter email and better photos. Apple's AI will automatically sort your inbox into four categories. Sounds handy.
But here's the problem: what if that smart inbox actually makes your work harder? Important emails disappear into the wrong category. Four different places to check instead of one. The AI that thinks it knows what you find important.
The irony is that these "improvements" work best on newer machines like a refurbished MacBook Pro or MacBook Air , while older Macs struggle with the extra workload. Time to find out if this update increases or decreases your productivity.
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The four new mail categories explained
The most significant change in macOS 15.4 is hidden in your Mail app. Apple's artificial intelligence now automatically sorts all your incoming messages into four different categories. The system sorts your emails into Primary (for important messages), Transactions (orders and banking), Updates (newsletters and notifications), and Promotions (offers and sales).
This arrangement works well on paper, but in practice, it's more difficult. The algorithm regularly makes incorrect estimates. An important work message ends up among the promotions. An invoice disappears into the updates folder. You now have to check four different places to make sure you don't miss anything. That's the exact opposite of what the feature is intended to do.
Fortunately, you can train the AI by manually dragging messages to the correct category. Future emails from the same sender will then automatically end up in the right place. You can also disable categorization entirely via the view menu if you prefer to keep a single, organized inbox.
Creating memory videos with AI
The Photos app is getting an exciting new feature: automatically generated Memories videos. This Apple Intelligence feature creates short compilations of your photos and videos around specific events, such as birthdays, vacations, or other special moments from your photo library.
The unique thing is that you can control these videos with text commands. The more specific your instructions, the better the result. You can name people the app already recognizes, specify a specific time period, or even suggest a music style. The system then dives into your library and often unearths forgotten gems.
The generated videos are customizable. You can change the music, add filters, or rearrange the sequence of shots. Remove unnecessary photos with a single tap, while adding missing favorites. Then export the final result to share with family and friends.
Performance on different Mac models
These AI features require a significant amount of processing power from your machine. Newer models, such as the latest-generation MacBook Pro with the M3 chip, run everything smoothly. However, older Macs with Intel processors or the first M1 chips may experience stuttering when using these new features intensively.
The difference is especially noticeable when generating reminder videos. On a modern MacBook Air, this takes a few seconds, while a 2019 Mac takes minutes. Email categorization works fairly quickly on all supported devices, although the initial inbox scan takes noticeably longer on older hardware.
For professional users who work extensively with photos and video, upgrading to a more recent refurbished Mac can be worthwhile. The time savings when processing large photo libraries are significant.
Smaller but useful improvements
Besides the major updates, macOS 15.4 includes several smaller tweaks that make daily use more enjoyable. The Passwords app now displays a timer next to two-factor authentication codes, so you can see exactly when they expire. This prevents frustrating situations where your code expires just as you're typing it.
Seven new emoji have been added to the keyboard. There's also a fresh wallpaper available, inspired by the sky-blue MacBook Air. These small additions make your Mac just that little bit more personal.
The Quick Start feature, familiar from iPhone and iPad, now works on Mac too. When setting up a new computer, you can use it to automatically transfer all your settings and iCloud account. This saves hours of configuration when switching machines.
Language support expanded
Apple Intelligence now speaks eight new languages. French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, German, Korean, and Chinese have been added to the repertoire. This makes the smart features accessible to millions more users worldwide.
For Dutch users, this means they can work with the AI features in multiple languages. Do you regularly write German or French emails? Then the mail app will now sort them just as accurately as English messages.
The image playground app has a new sketch style. This pairs particularly well with the notes app, where you can make quick sketches during meetings or brainstorming sessions.
Practical tips for the transition
Before updating to macOS 15.4, it's best to back up your current system. The new mail categorization can't be easily undone without resetting your entire mail archive.
Start by trying out one new feature at a time. For example, start with the reminder videos in the Photos app before activating email categorization. This way, you won't be overwhelmed by all the changes at once.
For the first few weeks, maintain your old email workflow while you test the new categories. Regularly check all four folders to see where important messages are being sent. Only when you're confident with the sorting can you fully switch to the new system.
Privacy considerations
All these AI features raise privacy concerns. Apple emphasizes that the processing happens locally on your Mac, not in the cloud. Your photos and emails therefore remain private. The company can't monitor your memory videos or see what your inbox looks like.
However, some caution is advised. The AI must scan your entire photo library and email archive to function properly. This means the system has access to all your personal data. For users who place particular value on privacy, there are options to disable specific features.
For example, you can use only the memory videos without enabling email categorization. Or you can restrict the Photos app's access to certain albums. This flexibility allows you to determine how much AI assistance you want.
Conclusion: decide for yourself what works
MacOS 15.4 is a typical Apple update: technically impressive, but not necessarily more practical. The email categorization works best if you spend some time training the AI. The reminder videos are fun for those who love digital photo albums.
For professional use, a refurbished MacBook Pro with sufficient processing power is worthwhile. The good news: you control which features you use. Disable what doesn't work, keep what does. This way, you can still make this update an improvement for your workflow.
