How long will the MacBook Air M1 be supported for

[bzgnyc2]

Also because Apple designed the chips.

True though the same is true on the phone side and it hasn't stopped them there.

Apple can’t support something designed by another vendor who has dropped support and intel has their own cycle for dropping support for their processors etc.

Yes and no. I am sure Apple is (was) a big enough buyer that they could have gotten Intel to continue support for the select models of the processors they used assuming there wasn't some fatal flaw with the chip. Which 5 years in to these chips it's hard to imagine there is a flaw fatal enough to warrant dropping support in new OS but continuing security support for 2 more years after that.

Then on the flip side, Apple appears to have dropped support for systems that have processors still supported by Intel such as the MacBook Air 2018 and 2019 (i5-8210Y) processor.

Ditto for Motorola previously.

There’s nothing to stop Apple supporting m1 as long as THEY see fit now.

Agree there's nothing stopping them from supporting the M1 for longer but I wouldn't count on it. I don't think they were hellbent on continuing support for older systems all these years but for Intel dropping support for the microprocessor Apple selected.

That said, I now expect Apple to drop all Intel support in macOS 16, which I am assuming is coming ~ September 2025. While I don't think Apple had to do this, it looks like Intel is dropping the processors used in many still supported Mac systems after June 30, 2025:

Changes in Customer Support and Servicing Updates for Select Intel®...

Changes in Customer Support and Servicing Updates for Select Intel® Processors

www.intel.com

There are still a few processors used in Mac systems not on that list (e.g. W-2140B as used in iMac Pro but that may be a special case not covered and similarly i3-1000NG4 as used in the MacBook Air 2020), but it's hard to imagine them dropping the Mac Pro (2019) while still keeping all the Intel support to keep the iMac Pro 2017, MacBook Air 2020, and/or MacBook Pro 2020 going.

Then I would be surprised if Apple drops the M1 machines at the same time but I wouldn't be surprised if Apple drops M1 machines from macOS 17. Especially the 8GB machines. Agree with you they wouldn't have to but I wouldn't be surprised...

 

[MacPeasant123]

What concept?

iPadOS 18 is available for iPad 10.2-inch with A10, but not iPad Pro 10.5-inch with A10X. The iPad Pro even has more RAM. The iPad Pro 10.5 was unlucky enough to be launched earlier.

It's proven that Apple supports major OS updates based on launch date. Specs or end of sales date have nothing to do with major OS updates.

I am in this situation: I have that iPad Pro 10.5-inch with a better chip and more RAM, but it isn't getting iPadOS 18

 

[JPack]

I am in this situation: I have that iPad Pro 10.5-inch with a better chip and more RAM, but it isn't getting iPadOS 18

Reminds me of people who thought Apple Silicon would result in cheaper computers.

Apple has a support schedule for Mac and it's pretty clear that's 6-7 years. Apple or Intel Silicon doesn't matter.

 

[JPack]

Agree there's nothing stopping them from supporting the M1 for longer but I wouldn't count on it. I don't think they were hellbent on continuing support for older systems all these years but for Intel dropping support for the microprocessor Apple selected.

That said, I now expect Apple to drop all Intel support in macOS 16, which I am assuming is coming ~ September 2025. While I don't think Apple had to do this, it looks like Intel is dropping the processors used in many still supported Mac systems after June 30, 2025:

Changes in Customer Support and Servicing Updates for Select Intel®...

Changes in Customer Support and Servicing Updates for Select Intel® Processors

www.intel.com

Pretty much this.

Intel isn't allergic to money. If a customer wants extended support, Intel can provide it as needed. Do people think the Intel embedded chips used in medical, defense, and commercial applications just get dropped after 6-7 years?

 

[AppleFeller]

I am in this situation: I have that iPad Pro 10.5-inch with a better chip and more RAM, but it isn't getting iPadOS 18

This one really caught me off guard, those things were no joke but got a shorted lifecycle.

 

[azentropy]

This one really caught me off guard, those things were no joke but got a shorted lifecycle.

Agree. Was listening to the MR podcast and they were talking about what is the oldest Apple product you still use. For me it is the 2017 10.5" iPad Pro. Even though I have several other iPads this is still my "go to" for my in nighttime/bed iPad. It was lighter weight than the 11" Pros and TouchID works better for me than FaceId in that environment (dark, different angle etc.). While I did develop the dread white spot and the battery is about 1/2 it once was and now doesn't run iOS 18 - I still really like it.

 

[Cheruman]

Apple will likely support the M1 for a few years yet but their strategy is to withhold features when new O/S’ are released. So you might be able to install the latest version of macOS but the ‘cool’ and shiny new stuff probably won’t work, for which Apple will give some arbitrary reasons as to why not.

They pray on the FOMO aspect to get people to upgrade and it works well for them.

 

[MBAir2010]

How long will the MacBook Air M1 be supported for?​

not anymore.
well my Satechi MacBook Air stand stopped supporting my MBA2020 as the rubber things are not sticking to the base even after gluing the part together.....
perhaps Tims bought the company?

 

[iHorseHead]

Worst Support: 2017 21.5" iMac, last sold October 2021, last feature update July 2023 (Ventura 13.5), last security update estimated July 2025: 3 year, 9 months of predicted support from discontinue.

What? Wasn't the MacBook 4,1 one of the worst supported laptops? It received only 2 OS upgrades and Lion became obsolete rather quick. Same with older MacBooks and PowerBooks that were released with Tiger. Some Macs received only 1 OS upgrade from Tiger to Leopard.

 

[padams35]

What? Wasn't the MacBook 4,1 one of the worst supported laptops? It received only 2 OS upgrades and Lion became obsolete rather quick. Same with older MacBooks and PowerBooks that were released with Tiger. Some Macs received only 1 OS upgrade from Tiger to Leopard.

I was listing Mac’s that sold for 4+ years. None of the PPCs lasted that long.

The Early 2008 MBP was discontinued Oct 2008 and has its last supported update (10.7.5) Oct 2012 for 4y 0m. Going from date discontinued and the 2017 iMac had worse support.

Of course, the E2008 was only sold for 10 months. 4y 10m from introduction is indeed probably the worst Intel support ever. Only 2 OS update because that was still the era of 2years per OS. Also didn’t help that Lion was the last OS to not receive the now standard +2 years of security updates.

 

[KPOM]

Reminds me of people who thought Apple Silicon would result in cheaper computers.

Apple has a support schedule for Mac and it's pretty clear that's 6-7 years. Apple or Intel Silicon doesn't matter.

To be fair, the base M4 MacBook Air is a good deal at $999 MSRP.