Macs May No Longer Need Ring Lights Thanks to macOS Tahoe 26.2 Beta

In a move that can potentially change the way we use ring lights during video calls, Apple is testing a new lighting feature, a luminance around the screen, in macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta. Through this feature, which is called Edge Light, users have adjustable light for conference call apps like FaceTime and Zoom.

The Apple Neural Engine is engaged in making the whole proclamation of identification of a user, fitting him/her in the frame and determining his/her size. The subsequent alteration of brightness is done in real-time while the Image Signal Processor regulates lighting according to the surrounding light conditions. Users can select the color temperature that ranges from warm to cool, and thereby simulate professional LED lighting effect.

The Edge Light is one slice above the desktop and application windows, but it dims automatically when the cursor is moved to the extremes of the screen. This virtual glow does not get recorded in screenshots, and neither does the feature facilitates any conflicts with the top menu bar.

It is planned that all Apple Silicone Macs will be getting Edge Light with macOS 26.2 in December. Laptops released in 2024 or later will have an automatic low-light mode, which activates the feature when it detects the room is dim. The functionality is also available for Studio Display and external cameras that are connected to Apple Silicone Macs.

The developers who are part of Apple's beta program can use the Edge Light feature right away and evaluate its performance.