Mac OS 16 - Intel Support - Death is nigh?

[gumbaloom]

Hi all,

So Apple has now obsoluted all but 2 Intel machines.

Do we think OSX 16 will have Intel Support ?

Considering the huge wedge of Apple Silicon only features that came in 15 + bar 2 vintage machines everything now obsolute it seems highly unlikely to me that Apple will want to invest in retaining Intel support.

What's the wisdom of the crowd ?

I'm kinda preparing myself for the worst and having to buy a new machine in June when I'm in Tokyo. Probably the high end of the standard models with 24GB ram as I need a machine thats got "current" support not just absolute bare essential security updates for work liability reasons.

gumbaloom

 

[Bigwaff]

This poll a nothing burger. Even if so, Sonoma and Sequoia will receive updates for several years if current trends hold. Intel Macs will not stop working. Nobody has to rush out and buy an AS Mac because Intel support dropped from macOS 16.

 

[frou]

I think if we rewound 5 years to when M1 was introduced, most people would be surprised that Intel support has ended up lasting as long as it has.

BTW the Vintage/Obsolete status is about hardware service, i.e. spare part availability. Never has been about guaranteed OS updates or patches. Apple is extremely evasive about putting down in writing a policy for that.

 

[gumbaloom]

This poll a nothing burger. Even if so, Sonoma and Sequoia will receive updates for several years if current trends hold. Intel Macs will not stop working. Nobody has to rush out and buy an AS Mac because Intel support dropped from macOS 16.

Oh for sure - my Intel Mac Mini 2018 is still going ver much strong.

The problem is when you're handling customer data - bare bones absolutely critical security updates doesn't cut it.

I'm quite sure I will be able this mac for a long time as a file server etc as I have my 2012 mac thats still working and updated to the max with ram and SSD etc.

Can I use a machine that is now on the run down to being obsolute with no more guaranteed parts and no more major OS updates for work purposes ? Nope - upgrade times.... It's got Apple Care on it till July of this year but is it really worth paying out for more apple care now it's in "vintage" status.

 

[Bigwaff]

The problem is when you're handling customer data - bare bones absolutely critical security updates doesn't cut it.

I think you are being somewhat dramatic. Customer not going to care if your macOS is not the latest. If used for “work”, install 3rd party virus / malware scanner. Such software will support Sonoma and Sequoia for years to come. Also use VPN. Basically use common sense while on internet and all will be ok.

Can I use a machine that is now on the run down to being obsolute with no more guaranteed parts and no more major OS updates for work purposes ? Nope - upgrade times

Yes, of course you can. We’ll have to agree to disagree.

 

[gumbaloom]

I think you are being somewhat dramatic.

Company liability insurance that dictates machines with latest OS

macOS

www.ncsc.gov.uk

macOS devices typically receive software updates for around 6-7 years after first release. Once a device is vintage or obsolete, it no longer receives updates. At this point, you should purchase newer devices.

Even the UK government recommends hardware upgrades once a machine goes obsolete.

Just to re-iterate - I'm not talking about home use - I'm talking about using for business / professional purposes handling sensitive date.

 

[gilby101]

Company liability insurance that dictates machines with latest OS

Wait for announcement re macOS 16. If not supported on your Mac, plan purchase for September.

 

[gumbaloom]

Wait for announcement re macOS 16. If not supported on your Mac, plan purchase for September.

Yep - got a trip up to Tokyo late June so if they say its bye bye Intel Mac at WWDC then a trip to the Apple Store is on the cards.

The question is - is it worth maintaining Apple Care (due to renew in July0. If my machine is obsolete guess and I end up getting a new one might drop it...

Was lucky this time last year that got another year of support but am thinking this will be the year of bey bye Intel. I'll be surprised if Apple makes the effort / expenditure to retain support for Intel if everything br 2 machines are obsolete.

 

[gilby101]

is it worth maintaining Apple Care

You have to do your own research. The value depends on the country where you buy it (e.g. Australia has stronger consumer laws than USA), need of international support, your risk profile.

So Apple has now obsoluted all but 2 Intel machines.

There are no Obsolete Macs which support Sequoia. I make it 3 or 4 models which are Vintage. As has already been said these terms relate to hardware support, not software.

This is my list of models supported by Sequoia:

Mac Pro 2019 (discontinued June 2023)
iMac 2019 27" & 21.5" (discontinued April 2021)
iMac 2020 (discontinued March 2022)
*Mini 2018 (discontinued January 2023)
MBA 2020 (discontinued November 2020)
MBP 2020 13" (2 models discontinued November 2020 and October 2021)
MBP 2019 13" (discontinued May 2020)
MBP 2019 16" (discontinued October 2021)
*MBP 2019 15" (discontinued November 2019)
*MBP 2018 15" & 13" (both discontinued May 2019)
The discontinued date is useful in estimating when likely to be removed from support.

* These are Vintage hardware.

my Intel Mac Mini 2018 is still going ver much strong.

Never mind the Vintage hardware, those who purchased one at the end of 2022 are going to be complaining if it loses latest macOS support in 2025. Even more those with Mac Pro 2019 which was still being sold 2 years ago.

 

[pappkristof]

I guess it will be the last version to support Intel. It would be a shame to drop support for the 5000+ USD Intel Mac Pro that was only replaced in 2023.

 

[14dcutaneo]

We'll find out the real answer in 1 month with WWDC on June 9th. I'm personally hoping for one more year of support, and for Apple to be transparent that the next release will be the final one for Intel. In the recent past, they have made it transparent when getting rid of support for legacy items (32-bit apps, kexts, etc)

 

[Homme]

macOS 26 may not support 2018 MacBook Pros and 2019 iMacs

Apple's macOS 26 is set to debut on June 9 at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers' Conference, but owners of older MacBook Pros and iMacs won't be able to experience the next-gen operating system.

appleinsider.com

 

[padams35]

I don't think the Vintage/Obsolete rules apply. Also I don't think Apple is correctly calculating them. For example, the Late 2018 Min shouldn't be listed as Vintage since only the i3 was discontinued 5+ years ago. The i5 and i7 models were still sold new until January 2023.

My Intel support guess:

60% chance?
> Mid 2020 iMac
> Mid 2020 13" MBP
> Late 2019 16" MBP
> Late 2019 Mac Pro
Historic trends suggest all of the above should still be supported, its just a question on if Apple will continue the trend or end Intel support one year early. I've been tentatively optimistic once Sequoia anounced it was keeping more Intel support than expected and Apple didn't make any big end-is-near anouncements for Intel.

40% chance?
> 2020 MBA - Normally a Late 2019+ cutoff should include the MBA, but sometimes a model gets skipped when a better model is released in the same year as happened with the mid-2015 iMac in Monterey.
> 2018 mini - I don't want to believe Apple would drop a model from discontinue even faster than the 2013 Mac Pro, however if the 2018 Mini doesn't make MacOS16 it would only be a 1-2 month faster drop and a lonely 8th gen CPU would look odd. I'm hopefull but not really expecting support.

20% chance?
> MBP 15,3 - If the Late 2018 Mini is supported then maybe the Late 2018/Mid2019 Vega MBP is supported too. Not likely, but Apple has made a submodel specific exception before and exceptions for high-end hardware would trigger fewer complaints than an exception for low-end hardware.

15% chance?
> 2019 iMac - Not vintage and would pass an arbitrary Late 2018 cutoff, but the baseline hardware is quite dated and is missing a T2 chip.
> MBP 15,4 - Also passes an arbitrary Late 2018 cutoff, but 2xTB support would make 4xTB 15,2 '2019' owners angry.

10% chance?
> MBP 15,1
> MBP 15,2
> Late 2017 iMac Pro
If Apple keeps one then they probably didn't cut anything, which seems very very unlikely.

 

[AL2TEACH]

I'm on 12.7.6. You mean Apple has updated the OS!!!!????? WTF!!!

 

[KestiriX]

if MacOS 26 name is real, then intel-mac days are over. this name change suggest that something big will be happening. And dropped support for intel macs might be it. The AI trend will force apple to focus only on macs that are capable of running AI.

 

[Falhófnir]

I think the 2019 Mac Pro may help give Intel Macs overall a brief stay of execution, as Apple's 'apology' machine that was sold up until June 2023, they may decide they want to support these expensive models up until ~2028, about 5 years after they stopped being offered for sale. Apple got bad enough publicity from the dead ended 2013 Mac Pro they might want to avoid totally dropping support too early. If they're going to support Intel for this one machine, they might also decide they'd just as well give the final 2019 and 2020 Intel macs their full 6-7 years of support.

They could also park all the remaining Intels on Sequoia with a slightly extended security patch and bug fix support cycle out to 2028 - and have macOS26 as a sort of soft relaunch for Apple Silicon macs only. I could see this scenario particularly if they're heavily focusing on AI, as the Intel chips in the 2019/2020 Macs lack a neural engine.

 

[frou]

I think the "still being sold until" angle is usually wishful thinking. The introduction date is far more relevant to the way Apple does things on the software side.

 

[padams35]

The cutoff is a moving target that changes with every version of MacOS. Some years it is introduction date. Some years it is replacement date.

MacOS 26 leaks suggest support is limited to models "Discontinued or replacement available Mid-2021 or later"

Supported
2020 5K iMac, plausibly replaced by M1 Max Studio March 2022
Late 2019 Mac Pro, plausibly replaced by M1 Ultra Studio March 2022
Late 2019 16" MBP, replaced by M1 Pro/Max 16" November 2021
Mid 2020 13" 4x TB MBP, replaced by M1 Pro/Max 14" November 2021
Mid 2020 13" 2x TB MBP, plausibly supported for consistancy with 13" 4x TB.

Not supported
2019 iMac, 5K replaced by 2020 in August; 4K replaced by M1 iMac April 2021
Late 2017 iMac Pro, discontinued without clear replacement March 2021
Early 2020 Air, replaced by M1 Air November 2020.
Late 2018 Mini, plausibly replaced by M1 Mini November 2020.
2019 13" MBPs, replaced by Mid-2020 MBPs May 2020.
2018 13" MBPs, same ID as 2019 13"
2018/2019 15": Plausibly only kept in Sequoia since Apple was still supporting 2018 13" MBP anyway.

 

[Homme]

The cutoff is a moving target that changes with every version of MacOS. Some years it is introduction date. Some years it is replacement date.

MacOS 26 leaks suggest support is limited to models "Discontinued or replacement available Mid-2021 or later"

Supported
2020 5K iMac, plausibly replaced by M1 Max Studio March 2022
Late 2019 Mac Pro, plausibly replaced by M1 Ultra Studio March 2022
Late 2019 16" MBP, replaced by M1 Pro/Max 16" November 2021
Mid 2020 13" 4x TB MBP, replaced by M1 Pro/Max 14" November 2021
Mid 2020 13" 2x TB MBP, plausibly supported for consistancy with 13" 4x TB.

Not supported
2019 iMac, 5K replaced by 2020 in August; 4K replaced by M1 iMac April 2021
Late 2017 iMac Pro, discontinued without clear replacement March 2021
Early 2020 Air, replaced by M1 Air November 2020.
Late 2018 Mini, plausibly replaced by M1 Mini November 2020.
2019 13" MBPs, replaced by Mid-2020 MBPs May 2020.
2018 13" MBPs, same ID as 2019 13"
2018/2019 15": Plausibly only kept in Sequoia since Apple was still supporting 2018 13" MBP anyway.

Yeah apparently 9to5mac reported on it

macOS 26 now rumored to drop support for at least one additional Intel Mac - 9to5Mac

Last week, we got reports that macOS 26 will drop support for a couple of the last generation Intel Macs,...

9to5mac.com

 

[gilby101]

If they're going to support Intel for this one machine, they might also decide they'd just as well give the final 2019 and 2020 Intel macs their full 6-7 years of support.

There is a big difference between 2019 and 2020 iMacs. The 2019 has no security chip. The 2020 iMac (along with the 2019 MacPro) have T2 security chip which is similar in functionality and lock down as the M1 and later Macs.

Removing the last non-T2 Intel Mac (the 2019 iMac) changes the boot process. Now all Macs (Mx or T2 Intel) will have a closely aligned secure boot. Is that a hurdle too far for OCLP?

 

[Corefile]

if MacOS 26 name is real, then intel-mac days are over. this name change suggest that something big will be happening. And dropped support for intel macs might be it. The AI trend will force apple to focus only on macs that are capable of running AI.

I think they will chop support in iOS 26 and commit to sustain Sequoia for a few additional years which should be a win-win for all. Apple can dump Intel and those NOS Intel systems get a commitment for sustaining security patches.

 

[padams35]

Question answered: https://www.apple.com/os/macos/
Four Intel models (2019 Mac Pro, 2019 16" MBP, 2020 13" 4x TB3, and 2020 5K iMac) have macOS 26 support.

 

[KestiriX]

long live the intel, i wonder if they get metal 4 tho

 

[Homme]

Rosetta 2 will finally scale back support after macOS 27

Developers relying on Rosetta 2 to keep their legacy code running should begin preparing now, as macOS 27 will be the last to provide full support for the translation technology.

appleinsider.com

 

[14dcutaneo]

We'll find out the real answer in 1 month with WWDC on June 9th. I'm personally hoping for one more year of support, and for Apple to be transparent that the next release will be the final one for Intel. In the recent past, they have made it transparent when getting rid of support for legacy items (32-bit apps, kexts, etc)

Well it looks like both of my wishes/requests/predictions came true. One more year of support for intel machines, and a clear message on phasing out support for the future.

https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/intel-macs-no-more-updates/

https://appleinsider.com/articles/2...t-operating-system-to-fully-support-rosetta-2