In a significant move, Apple has announced that macOS 26, codenamed “Tahoe,” will mark the end of major software updates for Macs equipped with Intel chips. This decision, revealed during the WWDC Platforms State of the Union keynote by Matthew Firlik, Apple’s senior director of developer relations, signals a shift towards exclusive support for Apple Silicon devices.
Following the release of macOS Tahoe this fall, Intel-based Macs will no longer receive future macOS updates, with Apple focusing on its in-house M1 models and newer. While Intel Macs will continue to receive security updates for a few more years, the upcoming macOS releases will run exclusively on Apple Silicon hardware.
The move towards discontinuing support for Intel Macs is not entirely surprising, as Apple has already started to phase out compatibility with some non-Apple Silicon models. macOS Tahoe, for instance, does not work with certain Intel MacBook Air or Mac mini models, although it still supports devices like the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 Intel 13-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro.
Looking ahead, it is expected that macOS 27 will drop support for all legacy Intel machines, making macOS 26 the final compatible version for these devices. Despite this shift, Apple assures users that existing Intel Macs will continue to receive security updates for the next three years. Moving forward, the minimum hardware support for macOS updates will be from 2020 onwards, coinciding with Apple’s transition to Apple Silicon chips starting with the M1 in 2020.
This decision by Apple marks a significant milestone in the company’s transition towards its proprietary silicon architecture, emphasizing performance and efficiency gains while gradually phasing out older Intel-based technology. As users prepare for the release of macOS Tahoe and the subsequent shift to Apple Silicon-exclusive updates, it underscores the importance of staying up-to-date with hardware advancements in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
References:
1. The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/news/683846/macos-tahoe-intel-x86-arm-m-cpu
2. Slashdot: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/25/06/09/2245206/apple-will-end-support-for-intel-macs-next-year?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
3. 9to5Mac: [Link not provided]
