When Apple debuts its subsequent large launch of macOS subsequent month — now anticipated to be dubbed macOS 26 — it might spell the tip of the highway for most of the Intel-based Macs presently supported by macOS Sequoia.
Individuals conversant in Apple’s macOS growth have advised AppleInsider that the present pre-release variations of macOS being labored on at Apple Park don’t embody any builds for 2017 or 2018 Mac fashions, nor the 2020 Intel-based MacBook Air.
Nonetheless, Apple surprisingly isn’t but slicing Intel out totally. Sources recommend that macOS 26 will nonetheless help the 2019 and 2020 MacBook Professional fashions, the 2020 iMac, and the 2019 Mac Professional. These could be the final of the high-end Intel Macs, however it’s additionally notable that these fashions took a bit longer to get the Apple Silicon remedy.
For instance, Apple is reportedly dropping help for the Intel 2020 MacBook Air, which was up to date to an M1 model solely six months later. Nonetheless, whereas Apple launched a 13-inch MacBook Professional on the identical time, the 2 higher-end MacBooks remained on Intel till late 2021, once they had been up to date with a brand new design and the M1 Professional and M1 Max chips.
The 2019 Mac Professional wasn’t up to date till mid-2022 with the M2 Extremely Mac Professional, however {many professional} studios nonetheless think about the older model a extra viable workhorse as a result of its broader expandability, notably for graphics accelerator playing cards.
Then there’s the 2020 iMac, which has change into much more of an outlier because it’s the final 27-inch iMac launched by Apple. The corporate has stated there gained’t be one other, however by no means say by no means; Apple coyly stated there gained’t be one other “27-inch iMac,” however that doesn’t rule out a brand new mannequin with a fair bigger display.
Nonetheless, Apple has good cause to maintain supporting these older Intel fashions for now, as Apple Silicon hasn’t successfully changed all of them but.
Apple has slowly dropped help for older Intel Macs with every new launch, however it’s shocking how slowly it’s been phasing them out. Whereas macOS Sonoma drew the road at almost all 2017 Macs (besides the iMac Professional), Sequoia solely lower off the 2018 and 2019 MacBook Air fashions, leaving others on the listing — together with the 2017 iMac Professional.
If these newest stories are correct, macOS 26 will mark the tip of the highway for the iMac Professional, the 2019 iMac, the 2018 MacBook Professional and Mac mini, and the 2020 Intel MacBook Air.
Whereas macOS 26 will nonetheless run on a number of Intel Macs, that doesn’t imply they gained’t be left behind in different methods. Apple started unveiling Apple Silicon-exclusive options solely months after the primary M1 Macs shipped. Intel Macs had been not noted of a half-dozen options in 2021’s macOS Monterey launch, and that continued with macOS Ventura in 2022. Intel Macs additionally lack help for the Apple Intelligence options launched in final 12 months’s Sequoia launch, and there’s no approach that’s going to alter. We’ll in all probability see fairly a number of issues in macOS 26 that may solely be accessible on Macs with an M-series chip.
Both approach, we gained’t have to attend lengthy to know for positive. Apple is predicted to unveil its subsequent main macOS launch throughout its Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) keynote, which shall be held on June 9 at 10:00 a.m. PT or 1:00 p.m. ET.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]