Got an Intel Apple Mac? The upcoming version of macOS won’t be available for you – here’s why
Apple will cut off Intel-based Macs from the latest version of its operating system. macOS 27 is set to be revealed next week.
Apple is preparing to release the new version of its macOS operating system for laptop and desktop computers, and it’ll reportedly complete the transition from hardware running on Intel processors.
As of the arrival macOS 27, which is due to be previewed at WWDC 2026 next week, only Macs running M-Series or A-Series processors will be able to update to the newest version of the software.
That means that the last remaining supported Macs on macOS 26 Tahoe will now drop off. They are the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports), 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019), 27-inch iMac (2020) and Mac Pro (2019).
Apple has previously promised they will receive an additional three years of security updates, as Apple often does with iOS devices that drop off the compatibility list. A document explaining its Rosetta translation environment, which enables x86_64 apps built for Intel systems to run on Apple Silicon, reads (via MacRumors): “macOS Tahoe will be the last release for Intel-based Mac computers. Those systems will continue to receive security updates for 3 years.”
It’s not totally clear whether macOS 27 will include compatibility with every M-Series Mac model, such as the first M1 machines. However, it’d be highly surprising if Apple axed them at this point.
The only other model to consider is the new MacBook Neo, which runs on an A-Series processor, but there’s no doubt there. It’s flying off the shelves.
We’ll get our first look at the new operating system and it’s new features next week at WWDC. Expect a big focus on the new standalone Siri app with a Google Gemini backbone.
Chris Smith
