So how long will my 2020 (2018) Intel Mac Mini be supported?

[Droid13]

As of today, the only Intel systems available new via the Apple store are M1 and M2 systems; the Intel Mac Mini in particular has now been withdrawn.

How long do you folks reckon Apple software and MacOS updates will continue to be developed for my machine? What is likely to be the final OS it will run, when is that likely to be released and when is that likely to become obsolete / unsupported?

 

[magicMac]

Probably quite a while yet. Is it an actual 2020 model (M1) or 2018 model purchased in 2020 (Intel)?

I have Intel i7 so same boat but it still runs very well on Ventura surprisingly (as long is it’s nothing too graphically intense).

That said, going to keep my eye on an M2 pro refurb in a few months. Or some kind of employee/perk box or random Amazon discount. Need to save up… 😉

 

[Droid13]

Is it an actual 2020 model (M1) or 2018 model purchased in 2020 (Intel)?

It's an Intel - the 2020 "bump" of the 2018 model (specs in signature line). It does everything I need it to and I would like to keep it for as long as possible - and for my needs and based on experience with laptops, this is more likely to be dictated by OS updates than by hardware requirements.

Like you I will need to save. Picking up an early refurb would be tempting though - at this point in time the hassle of moving to a new machine wouldn't be major.

 

[opeter]

The standard support should be 5 to 7 years, as long as Apple supports the hardware part. So, for Mac mini 2018 that means around 2025. I think it doesn't matter, if you did buy Intel Mac mini in 2020, since it internals are actually the same.

But of course Apple could cut the support much sooner. That means, that it can happen, that the macOS introduced this year (2023) could be officially the last one, that supports x86/Intel Macs. They are likely to force users to switch as quickly as possible to Apple Silicon (ARM).

Let's wait and see...

 

[Oculus Mentis]

Even if Apple stops supporting Intel macs it’s not a big deal as long as Linux keeps running on them as it does today.
I still own a 2011 Mac mini running Ubuntu 22.04 as Docker server for Plex, Sabnzbd, python development, bitcoin core node, mainframe emulation and SQL server.

 

[Droid13]

But of course Apple could cut the support much sooner.

With reference to the early Intel days, my instinct is that the transition to only supporting Apple silicon will be quite speedy.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

With reference to the early Intel days, my instinct is that the transition to only supporting Apple silicon will be quite speedy.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all. MacOS 14 will certainly support Intel, and “Probably” macOS 15. Beyond that… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[weaztek]

So, for Mac mini 2018 that means around 2025. I think it doesn't matter, if you did buy Intel Mac mini in 2020, since it internals are actually the same.

I disagree. they just removed the i5 Mini from the store yesterday.

I expect those will be supported for 4-5 years from now.

 

[padams35]

A good case study to set our expectations is the 2013 Mac Pro.
The 2013 MP, discontinued December 2019, was supported by the 2020 & 2021 versions of MacOS but was dropped from Ventura (2022).

I expect similar for the 2018 mini. The only question is if the extra month difference from December to January will gives us +1 year of support (3 more MacOS versions) or leave us at the same +2 MacOS versions as the 2013 MP?

Either way that predicts either MacOS 15 (2024) or MacOS 16 (2025) will be the last supported version, with security updates ending mid 2027 or 2028.

So 2-3 more years of support if you only count major releases, 3-4 years of support if you count point release, or 5-6 more years of support if you count security updates.

 

[Boyd01]

Depends on how you define "support". To me, that just means that your computer will run a version of MacOS that still receives security updates. Apparently some other people think it means that your computer will run the newest version of MacOS.

Anyway, it makes no difference when the computer was introduced or when you bought it. Apple's support policy is based on when the product was discontinued - which was Tuesday for the 2018 Mini. Apple's policy is specifically geared towards hardware support - like whether you can bring it to an Apple store and get it fixed:

"Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, or Apple TV products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers, including Apple Retail Stores and Independent Repair Providers, for a minimum of 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale."

Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support

Learn about your options for getting service and parts for Apple devices that are past their warranty period.

support.apple.com

So, I think the 2018 Mini will be "supported" until 2028 - 5 years from now.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Depends on how you define "support".

True - hardware support will be available. But supporting the latest OS is an important part of software support. For example, if you don’t have macOS 13.1 you can’t run the new HomeKit stuff… yeah, I know, you can’t even run it WITH macOS 13.1 right now 🤣 but you get my point.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

A good case study to set our expectations is the 2013 Mac Pro.

Or, look at the Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) model. Introduced October 2005, discontinued August 2006, and lost new software support in June 2009. That, like Intel currently, was a pre-transition model.

 

[opeter]

I disagree. they just removed the i5 Mini from the store yesterday.

I expect those will be supported for 4-5 years from now.

May I ask, if someone remembers, when did Apple remove the last PowerMac from their stores? Was it in 2006 or later?

Because the last Mac OS X, that supported PowerPC CPUs (PPC) was released in 2007 (Leopard, if I'm not mistaken).

 

[Kebabselector]

May I ask, if someone remembers, when did Apple remove the last PowerMac from their stores? Was it in 2006 or later?

Because the last Mac OS X, that supported PowerPC CPUs (PPC) was released in 2007 (Leopard, if I'm not mistaken).

According to MacTracker is was August 2006 when it was discontinued.

 

[padams35]

May I ask, if someone remembers, when did Apple remove the last PowerMac from their stores? Was it in 2006 or later?

Because the last Mac OS X, that supported PowerPC CPUs (PPC) was released in 2007 (Leopard, if I'm not mistaken).

2006. Most models were replaced by Intel early 2006, but the G5 Power Macintosh stuck around until August.

So, basically a tie with the 2013 Mac Pro.
2006 (sales discontinued) -> 2009 (no longer supported by newest OS)
2019 (sales discontinued) -> 2022 (no longer supported by newest OS)
...
2023 (sales discontinued) -> 2026 (no longer supported by newest OS?)


My timeline prediction is:

• MacOS 14/2023 - No requirement changes. (Still supporting 2017 21.5" iMac, last sold 2021)
• MacOS 15/2024 - System requirement jump. 2018 Mini, last sold January 2023, is still supported, but I don't know if the cutoff will include or exclude mid-2018 laptops or 2019 iMacs.
• MacOS 16/2025 - Last version with Intel support, because of Late 2019 Mac Pro. Also probably only supporting the last of each product. 2020 13" laptops, 2020 iMac, Late 2019 16" MBP, Late 2019 Mac Pro... and probably also 2018 mini.
• MacOS 17/2026 - Apple Silicon required.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

My timeline prediction is:

• MacOS 14/2023 - No requirement changes. (Still supporting 2017 21.5" iMac, last sold 2021)
• MacOS 15/2024 - System requirement jump. 2018 Mini, last sold January 2023, is still supported, but I don't know if the cutoff will include or exclude mid-2018 laptops or 2019 iMacs.
• MacOS 16/2025 - Last version with Intel support, because of Late 2019 Mac Pro. Also probably only supporting the last of each product. 2020 13" laptops, 2020 iMac, Late 2019 16" MBP, Late 2019 Mac Pro... and probably also 2018 mini.
• MacOS 17/2026 - Apple Silicon required.

This seems like the most likely to me, too. We can’t draw DIRECT comparisons from the last G5 Power Mac since at that point, Apple wasn’t doing annual macOS releases. But, I will not be surprised if it goes down pretty much as you predict here. They “Could” cut it off with macOS 16… which would not make a lot of Mac Pro 2019 owners happy of course. I guess we’ll see!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

It's an Intel - the 2020 "bump" of the 2018 model (specs in signature line).

It is a 2018 model. The only change in 2020 was elimination of some storage options - nothing was “Added.”

 

[Fishrrman]

I always grin at these "how long will this Mac be supported?" questions.

My answer would be:
Why does this even matter to you?

As long as the Mac continues to do what you like to do with it, seems "supported enough" to me.
The question could be re-phrased as "how long will this Mac support ME?"

Chances are that within a year or two after "official" support ends, you'll be wanting a new Mac anyway.
Or... perhaps even sooner.

 

[NewUsername]

As of today, the only Intel systems available new via the Apple store are M1 and M2 systems; the Intel Mac Mini in particular has now been withdrawn.

How long do you folks reckon Apple software and MacOS updates will continue to be developed for my machine? What is likely to be the final OS it will run, when is that likely to be released and when is that likely to become obsolete / unsupported?

Nobody knows.

My best guess is that macOS 14 will require 2018 or later Macs (ending support for 7th-gen Intel), macOS 15 will have the same requirements, and macOS 16 will require an M1. So your Mac mini will run the latest macOS until ± October 2025. Afterwards, macOS 15 will still get security updates for two years, until ± October 2027.

That would be a fairly typical 7+2 years of support.

 

[Droid13]

Depends on how you define "support". To me, that just means that your computer will run a version of MacOS that still receives security updates.

That's essentially how I look at it.

A good case study to set our expectations is the 2013 Mac Pro.

Or, look at the Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) model. Introduced October 2005, discontinued August 2006, and lost new software support in June 2009. That, like Intel currently, was a pre-transition model.

I think these are both good examples, but the G5 -> Intel transition is how I think the Intel -> AS transition will go.

Why does this even matter to you?

One wishes to plan ahead sensibly; I have only ever felt the need to update hardware when the security updates have stopped, and my instinct is that I will be needing a new machine in the next 3-5 years. This post is a sense check. Plus these kinds of questions seem to be positively encouraged on MacRumors; everything is conjecture until release day.

 

[jimthing]

BTW...

- Apple didn't do a rev of the 2018 model in 2020; all they did was lower the prices of some configs. So it's just a normal 2018 model you have. (check it in the Mactracker app where they're all the same, if you want confirmation.)

- Also, be aware if you want to store any data in iCloud, the drive has to be internal to the Mac. That's why my media is stored externally, while years of admin paperwork et al (~600GB) is internally stored on my 2TB Mini 2018 (synced via iCloud to all my other Apple devices), leaving the extra space for macOS/apps + v.fast internal working/scratch drive space. IMO, 2TB is the minimum for many people if buying now, though others may feel 1TB + external NVMe as their scratch drive may suit them better to move work data between machines.

 

[Boyd01]

Apple didn't do a rev of the 2018 model in 2020; all they did was lower the prices of some configs.

That is true, as can be seen at everymac, the only 2020 Mini is the M1. All that happened in 2020 was they discontinued the 128gb SSD option and made 256gb the minimum SSD size.

But again, that is irrelevant in the context of this discussion. The only thing that matters is when they discontinue a product, not when it is introduced. But that raises an interesting question, when the M1 Mini was introduced I believe they discontinued the i3 Mini. So I wonder, will it become obsolete two years before the other 2018 Mini configurations?

 

[ashleykaryl]

I am in the same boat having a 2018 i7 mini that I purchased in 2020 with the larger hard drive as standard. It basically does what I need and has run flawlessly since new, however there is no doubt an M2 Pro would be an entirely different beast at a similar purchase price.

In theory somebody could have ordered the same Intel computer on Monday of this week, so I think they would be pretty annoyed if Apple excluded it from OS version updates in the next couple of years irrespective of what is happening with Silicon.

Ideally, I would like to think we will be covered until 2028, but I concede that may be optimistic. I still recall buying the PPC G5 in December 2004 and it seemed like Apple held no great sympathy for PPC users when the move to Intel came just 18 months later. Expect users of the i3 2018 mini to find themselves cut off fairly soon though.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I am in the same boat having a 2018 i7 mini that I purchased in 2020 with the larger hard drive as standard. It basically does what I need and has run flawlessly since new, however there is no doubt an M2 Pro would be an entirely different beast at a similar purchase price.

In theory somebody could have ordered the same Intel computer on Monday of this week, so I think they would be pretty annoyed if Apple excluded it from OS version updates in the next couple of years irrespective of what is happening with Silicon.

Ideally, I would like to think we will be covered until 2028, but I concede that may be optimistic. I still recall buying the PPC G5 in December 2004 and it seemed like Apple held no great sympathy for PPC users when the move to Intel came just 18 months later. Expect users of the i3 2018 mini to find themselves cut off fairly soon though.

I own a 2018 i5 Mini. It would NOT surprise me if this is the final year for OS upgrades.

 

[Wokis]

2006. Most models were replaced by Intel early 2006, but the G5 Power Macintosh stuck around until August.

So, basically a tie with the 2013 Mac Pro.
2006 (sales discontinued) -> 2009 (no longer supported by newest OS)
2019 (sales discontinued) -> 2022 (no longer supported by newest OS)
...
2023 (sales discontinued) -> 2026 (no longer supported by newest OS?)


My timeline prediction is:

• MacOS 14/2023 - No requirement changes. (Still supporting 2017 21.5" iMac, last sold 2021)
• MacOS 15/2024 - System requirement jump. 2018 Mini, last sold January 2023, is still supported, but I don't know if the cutoff will include or exclude mid-2018 laptops or 2019 iMacs.
• MacOS 16/2025 - Last version with Intel support, because of Late 2019 Mac Pro. Also probably only supporting the last of each product. 2020 13" laptops, 2020 iMac, Late 2019 16" MBP, Late 2019 Mac Pro... and probably also 2018 mini.
• MacOS 17/2026 - Apple Silicon required.

I'm more pessimistic. I'm betting on MacOS 14 being the last one for any Intel mahine but perhaps with extended maintenance support for say 3 years.

Come MacOS 15 I expect with increased competition and market pressure they will want to focus in on their own silicon's accelerators and thus putting much effort on making AS-exclusive features. It'd feel dishonest at some point to claim that the Intel machines were really running the "same OS".