Apple to End Support for Intel-Based Macs with macOS 27

Apple has announced that macOS 26 Tahoe will be the last version of its operating system to support Intel-based Macs. Starting with macOS 27, scheduled for release next year, updates will be exclusive to Macs equipped with Apple Silicon processors, such as the M1, M2, and M3 chip families.

This transition marks the end of a 19-year era for Intel-powered Macs, which began in 2006 when Apple shifted from PowerPC processors to Intel chips. The move to Apple Silicon has been driven by significant improvements in performance, battery life, and energy efficiency.

While macOS 26 Tahoe will still bring new features to a limited selection of Intel Macs, including the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 Intel 13-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro, these models will not be eligible for future macOS updates beyond version 26.

Apple has indicated that critical security updates for macOS 26 Tahoe will continue for several years, but users seeking new operating system features will need to upgrade to a Mac with an Apple Silicon processor.

This decision underscores Apple's commitment to its custom ARM-based chips and signals a complete transition away from Intel processors in its Mac lineup.