According to 9to5Mac, Apple just released macOS Tahoe 26.2 public beta 2 with a clever new video call enhancement called Edge Light. This feature illuminates the edges of your display during video calls, functioning like a virtual ring light that’s become essential for streaming and remote work. Users can customize both the thickness of the edge lighting and choose between blue, neutral, or amber color temperatures. The current build rolling out is version 25C5037j, identical to yesterday’s developer beta 2 release. To install it, users need to enroll in Apple’s public beta program at beta.apple.com before downloading the update.
Is this Apple’s answer to webcam lighting?
Here’s the thing – this feels like Apple playing catch-up in the video call enhancement space. Ring lights have been standard equipment for streamers and remote workers for years now. But integrating it directly into the operating system? That’s actually pretty clever. No extra hardware needed, no USB ports occupied – just software magic. I’m curious how well it actually works compared to physical lighting setups. Will it properly account for different room lighting conditions? And what about battery drain on laptops? Those are the real questions Apple needs to answer.
But should you actually install this?
Look, it’s a beta for a reason. While the Edge Light feature sounds cool, remember you’re essentially volunteering to be Apple’s quality assurance team. Beta software can be buggy, unstable, and might break your workflow. I’ve seen previous macOS betas that caused kernel panics, app crashes, and all sorts of headaches. Basically, don’t install this on your primary work machine unless you’re prepared for potential downtime. And definitely back up everything first – I can’t stress that enough.
What this tells us about Apple’s direction
This move signals Apple’s continued focus on the hybrid work reality we’re all living in. They’re clearly paying attention to what people actually need for professional video presence. Between this and their ongoing camera improvements, they’re making a play for the remote work market. Want to follow more Apple beta news? Check out 9to5Mac on Twitter or their YouTube channel for ongoing coverage. The real test will be whether features like Edge Light make it to the final release – and whether users actually find them useful beyond the initial novelty.
