If I order a new/refurb BTO MBA right now, will it come with Sequoia or Tahoe?

[Miss Terri]

Hi folks,

As in the title, I'm wondering if I buy a new M4 MBA 13" today (BTO, 32G and 2TB), would it come with Sequoia or Tahoe?

Would the answer be any different for a refurb of the same spec?

Is this knowable?

I thought I might be stuck with Tahoe (would rather at least start with Sequoia) but a friend just received a brand new BTO Mac Mini and it came with Sequoia.

 

[MBAir2010]

this depends on when that M4 MBA 13" was boxed then shipped.
My MacBook Air M1 can't load Big Sur and I need to revert to Monterey which was the default OS.
case in point my MBP 2012 13"/dvd player model was promoted, made and presented during LION
but my actual MacBook takes Mt Lion-Catalina only.

I hope this helped and was accurate.

 

[Miss Terri]

Well it would be shipped sometime after today, since I haven't ordered yet. A refurb would come sooner (since obviously they already have them), whereas a new computer would take a couple of weeks to arrive (not sure if they are actually "building" to order but the new MBA M4 I would want has always had this type of lead time - or at least I've never seen them ready to ship when I've looked).

 

[Miss Terri]

BTW, I have done some research and it *seems* like one could "downgrade" to Sequoia with a bootable USB copy, but having looked a the instructions it's something I would rather not try if I didn't have to (terminal commands, etc.). I mean, I have used terminal for things but this had vague notations like "you would need to re-load your apps as they would all be gone." I mean, the Apple apps that are usually just there? Or did they mean stuff one has bought and added separately.

Anyway, how easy life would be if I thought I could buy one now with Sequoia.

(Didn't buy sooner as I was out of the country, and by the time I got back the computer I had ordered to my house would have been beyond the return date so that didn't seem great.)