Is Big Sur preinstalled on new Intels?

[Rndm User]

Hi,

I'm wondering if Big Sur is preinstalled on new Intel 13" or 16" MacBook Pros (new as in laptops you would pick up at the Apple store or order online directly from Apple). I will call Apple, but I'm looking for replies here as well.

I'd appreciate any help, but please don't respond if you just want to tell me that I shouldn't worry about it.

Thank you!

 

[hg.wells]

Yes, any new Macs from Apple now on will have Big Sur installed.

If you purchase a Mac from a third party such as Best Buy, it could potentially have Catalina installed.

What is the concern?

 

[chscag]

I don't know that for sure, however, Apple has over the years included the latest version of macOS on newly purchased computers. There's always a chance that some of the machines have remained in the warehouse for some time and may have Catalina installed instead.

 

[mr23579882375]

I'm wondering the same thing. For those who ask why, it's because Big Sur cripples Little Snitch due to the way Apple's own traffic is excluded from the application firewall.

The bigger question for me is -- if I bought a BTO Intel MBP right now, and it came with Big Sur, could I boot from a Catalina installer USB Drive and wipe and install that instead? My gut feeling is yes based on having never seen a Mac identifier that had a minimum OS based on manufacture date versus identifier/model number.

What I mean by that is -- take for example the MBP 16 Intel. Its identifier is "MacBookPro16,1 (A2141)". These shipped with Catalina at some point in the past and will presumably now ship with Big Sur. But imagine some point in the future where someone sells one on eBay or something. I have never seen anyone sell a Mac with the caveat of "yeah its model number is XXXX but it was purchased after the release of this new OS, so that's the min install".

My hunch is that if any "MacBookPro16,1 (A2141)" can run Catalina then they all can.

Does anyone have more information on this?

 

[Nermal]

You may need to enable booting of older OSes in the Startup Security Utility, but other than that you'll be fine.

 

[ght56]

It may or may not have Big Sur depending on production date. If it comes with Big Sur, you should be able to 'upgrade' to Catalina if you would prefer.

 

[robbieduncan]

Depends on who you buy from. I am starting a new job in January. They sent me a 13” Intel MBP just before Christmas to use on day 1. It came from a local re-seller (not direct from Apple) with Catalina not Big Sur.

 

[cdcastillo]

Hi,

I'm wondering if Big Sur is preinstalled on new Intel 13" or 16" MacBook Pros (new as in laptops you would pick up at the Apple store or order online directly from Apple). I will call Apple, but I'm looking for replies here as well.

I'd appreciate any help, but please don't respond if you just want to tell me that I shouldn't worry about it.

Thank you!

I recently bought a new 16", it came with Catalina installed. But then again, I got it from Best Buy, and not directly from apple.