List of Macs Compatible With macOS Big Sur

[MacRumors]

Apple today previewed macOS Big Sur with redesigned interfaces such as the Dock and Notification Center, the addition of a Control Center, several improvements to core apps like Safari and Messages, and much more.

macOS Big Sur is available in beta for registered Apple developers starting today, with a public beta to follow next month. The free software update will be released to all users with a compatible Mac in the fall, according to Apple.

Macs compatible with macOS Big Sur:

• 2015 and later MacBook
• 2013 and later MacBook Air
• Late 2013 and later MacBook Pro
• 2014 and later iMac
• 2017 and later iMac Pro
• 2014 and later Mac mini
• 2013 and later Mac Pro

Accordingly, the following models capable of running macOS Catalina will not be able to be upgraded to macOS Big Sur:

• 2012 and Early 2013 MacBook Pro
• 2012 MacBook Air
• 2012 and 2013 iMac
• 2012 Mac mini

Article Link: List of Macs Compatible With macOS Big Sur

 

[MisterAndrew]

There is no 2013 Mac mini.

 

[BootsWalking]

It Catalina is any indication, Apple is doing users a favor by precluding them from upgrading to Big Sur.

 

[JosephAW]

Since my mid 2012 MBP supports Catalina I'm sure there will be a hack to run macOS 11 Big Sur.
I was hoping for a solid "snow leopard" macOS to ride into the sunset. Catalina failed miserably, reverted to a previous macOS.

 

[ipedro]

My 2012 iMac

 

[mnsportsgeek]

RIP 2012 non-retina MBP.

 

[Solver]

Kind of figured this. I wasn’t even able to run my Mac mini late 2012 on Catalina very well until I replaced the hard drive with a solid-state drive.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

There is no 2013 Mac mini.

Fixed that. It's a long day for us!

 

[Phil77354]

Whew!! My iMac (late 2014) and my wifes MacBook (early 2015) just made the cut!!

 

[garirry]

Inb4 patch that allows all those models to run Big Sur flawlessly as if it worked natively.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I will be upgrading to Mojave next year.

 

[JosephAW]

This might be the time to wait for a gen 2 of the ARM MBP A14Z to replace my 2012 mid MBP. 10 years is a good ride.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

This might be the time to wait for a gen 2 of the ARM MBP A14Z to replace my 2012 mid MBP. 10 years is a good ride.

Ya, I’m trying to decide if I jump in on gen 1 or wait. The rumors that we’ll have to wait an extra year to get a redesigned MBP make me think I should wait. I don’t want to buy the boring old 13” design.

I can live with another year of Catalina...I think.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Kind of figured this. I wasn’t even able to run my Mac mini late 2012 on Catalina very well until I replaced the hard drive with a solid-state drive.

i have a Quad Core FusionDrive 2012 Mac mini and it runs really well on Catalina*. Maybe it’s the 128GB SSD in front of the 1TB HDD? Or the 16GB ram? * had issues until last update with big pic files but now seems fine.

 

[MrGimper]

Woohoo my 2014 retina iMac gets to play with the big boys for another year.

 

[McScooby]

All these folk on the other thread talking about current models being supported for 6 years or so clearly weren’t about for the last transition from power pc to intel. I recommend an iMac to a friend. They spent what at the time was not cheap & they got 4 years with a new OS, wonder if history will repeat itself?
For Big Sur, my mini & mb are 2012, so I wasn’t entirely expecting support, might just have to upgrade to Catalina instead, although still too many horror stories for my liking!🤔🤣

 

[kalafalas]

I’ve been holding off upgrading my late 2013 rMBP until an a-series MacBook comes out, seems I will be able to hold onto it at least one more year of updates woop whoop!

 

[tranceking26]

I'm still on the fence about this, my 2015 MBP can have Big Sur but I want to see how it goes for others first.

 

[lacrossegoalie4]

Woohoo my 2014 retina iMac gets to play with the big boys for another year.

I'm also excited about this! Mine has been holding strong and has sufficient speed and processing power for most modern applications. I'm trying to put off the upgrade as long as possible....which might be next year! It will be a good time to upgrade with ARM-based processors hopefully in the rumored new hardware design.

 

[ipedro]

My 2012 iMac
View attachment 926167

The question I’m now coming across is whether to get a new Mac at all. My iPad Pro is my main computer.

Lightroom, Photoshop and most other apps I use are on iPadOS. My only outstanding Mac app, Final Cut Pro, is now running on ARM. It’s just a matter of time before it comes to iPad.

Do I even need a Mac? 🤔

 

[padams35]

This looks like the same arbitrary move Apple pulled with Sierra.
The supported line looks suspiciously like an arbitrarily draw at '2014 and newer plus 2013 Mac Pro' with older models sharing a model ID with a supported machine also included.

That 2013 Air? Same A1465/A1466 6,1/6,2 model identifier as a 2014 Air. Same story with the Late 2013 Macbook Pro: Both the Late 2013 and 2014 are MacbookPro11.1/2/3 machines.

The only good news is if this pattern continues then Apple's '2020' mac mini release just gave my 2018 another +2 years of life.

 

[rjohnstone]

My Late 2013 iMac has served me well for the last 7 years... time for an upgrade.

 

[rolandopr]

2012 15” MacBook Pro Retina display end of the Apple road. Now waiting for dosdude1 to give it an extra update or two!

 

[Souponastick270]

Still running Mojave on my 2012 iMac, sad to see it drop off the list but it's an old machine now but hasn't given my a single day of trouble over the last 8 years. It'll do a couple more years, then I'll retire it and see where Apple is with their ARM based iMacs

 

[ersan191]

I'm shocked 2013 MBP is still on the list - I was ready to buy a new Mac today. Now I get to wait until the ARM macs come out and I can weigh my options.

Side note: Big Sur beta is running even better than Catalina did on this ancient computer.