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Summary
- macOS 26 Tahoe is a major update with a revamped user experience, but ends support for Intel-based Macs.
- Only select Intel Mac models from 2019 will get macOS 26.
- Older devices will not get macOS 27, but can expect 3 years of security updates.
Another macOS update is coming, and this is a big one. Not only is the all-new macOS 26 Tahoe delivering a completely revamped user experience, but it also brings bad news for those with an Intel-based Mac.
During Apple’s big WWDC event this week, the company unveiled macOS 26 Tahoe, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and more. Apple has moved from version numbers to years, meaning there won’t be a macOS 19. During the announcement, Apple had a lot to say about all the new macOS 26 features, but in the fine print (and during its Platforms State of the Union event), the company confirmed that this is the road for most of its machines released before 2020, and the end for Intel-based Macs.
To be more specific, if you have a compatible Intel-based Mac from 2019, you’ll get the update to macOS 26, but you will not receive macOS 27 next year. The company phased out Intel chipsets starting in 2020 with the M1 chip, and now it’s phasing them out entirely. Keep in mind that you’ll still get some updates for security and maintenance, but this is the last major OS update.
Will My Intel Mac Get macOS 26?
The latest macOS Tahoe is compatible with all MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models released in 2020 or newer, as they all run Apple silicon like the M1, M2, etc. However, only select models will receive the update if you have a machine powered by an Intel processor. Those include:
- MacBook Pro (Intel, 16‑inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (2020 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019 and later)
And while your Intel Mac will not get an update to macOS 27 next year, that doesn’t mean updates will stop completely. In a statement to The Verge, an Apple spokesperson said models like the Intel-based MacBook Pro 16-inch, released in 2019, will receive security and maintenance updates for three years.
In case you didn’t notice, the upgrade to macOS 26 is already ending support for some of Apple’s most popular but older machines. That’s because macOS Tahoe doesn’t support any Intel MacBook Air (only the Pro model), and anyone with a Mac mini is out of luck. Apple started using its own M1 chipset in the 2020 Mac mini, so this release no longer supports older models.
On the bright side, those with a compatible Intel Mac will be happy with many of the changes. In addition to a neat new Liquid Glass software experience, you’ll enjoy a turbocharged Spotlight, Live Activities, and the Phone app coming to your Mac, along with improvements to gaming, shortcuts, Messaging, Apple Intelligence, and so much more. This is a big update, but it’ll unfortunately be the last one for many of us.
Source: The Verge
