When will support for the 2018 Mini end?

[Boyd01]

Was just pondering this in light of the discussion around MacOS Tahoe, which won't support the 2018 Mini. Apple's stated policy for hardware support is "...a minimum of 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale". According to everymac, the 2018 Mini was sold until January 17, 2023, which implies that Apple will provide service until January, 2028.

That seems longer than Apple would normally support a 2024 operating system (Sequoia)... isn't it? Do you think we can expect Sequoia security updates until 2028? I can't believe that Apple would still provide hardware support for a product that no longer has operating system support.

I had been getting frustrated with my 2018 Mini because I push it very hard and recently it was running hot and slow. Had a closer look yesterday... the air intake was completely plugged with cat hair and dust! I don't think any air was moving through it at all. Yeah, I should have known better. But after a thorough cleaning it's running like a new Mac again - quite a dramatic difference! Since I rely very heavily on a Windows VM, I plan to stick with Intel as long as I can. It still meets my needs and frankly, an upgrade would be a stretch financially.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

There's also the 2019 Mac Pro, which wasn't discontinued until June of 2023 and cost many thousands of dollars! It is supported by macOS 26 Tahoe, but it's an Intel Mac so it won't be supported by macOS 27...

I'm really quite surprised by the news that Tahoe will be the last OS to support Intel. People point to how quickly Apple dropped PowerPC support, but Apple and the wider industry were in a different place back then.

 

[frou]

Do you think we can expect Sequoia security updates until 2028?

No way

I can't believe that Apple would still provide hardware support for a product that no longer has operating system support.

Why not? The fact they actually put the hardware support (spare parts) policy in writing, and do not do the same for software support (OS updates) shows that in Apple's mind the policies are unrelated.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

The fact they actually put the hardware support (spare parts) policy in writing, and do not do the same for software support (OS updates) shows that in Apple's mind the policies are unrelated.

Well, that policy page OP linked does say:

Apple discontinues hardware service for certain technologically-obsolete products. Your product is supported by ongoing OS updates and backed by a network of more than 5,000 Apple-certified repair locations that you can count on if something unexpected happens.

Emphasis added.

And then further down Apple defines an "obsolete product" as:

Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.

To me, this implies that anything bought less than 7 years ago should be "supported by ongoing OS updates", but I agree it's not entirely clear.

 

[iHorseHead]

Do you think we can expect Sequoia security updates until 2028?

Yes.
Because Leopard was supported till 2011, Snow Leopard till 2014 (got App Store update in 2016), Lion till 2014, High Sierra was supported till 2020.
So yes, till 2028.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Yes.
Because Leopard was supported till 2011, Snow Leopard till 2014 (got App Store update in 2016), Lion till 2014, High Sierra was supported till 2020.
So yes, till 2028.

...Oh. Right.

The standard is three years of support. It's currently 2025. Three years from now will be 2028. 2028 feels very far in the future to me for some reason, but it's not, I apparently just forgot how to count.

That resolves that mystery.

 

[padams35]

To me, this implies that anything bought less than 7 years ago should be "supported by ongoing OS updates", but I agree it's not entirely clear.

That is an optimistic reading. The policy clearly states the 5 year minimum is for "service and parts". The Software policy is listed separately in passing and only implies that software updates will be provided for longer than the warranty period.

Even worse, Apple seems to be trying to list the 2018 Mini a Vintage product for hardware support based on the i3 discontinue date.

I expect the 2018 Mini will receive its final security update sometime Q3 2027 making it the second shortest support from discontinue since Apple began annual updates. The record for worst-support-from-discontinue will likely stay with the 2017 21.5" iMac assuming Apple ends Ventura security updates later this year as expected. Third shortest goes to the 2013 Mac Pro which was sold new as late as December 2019 but only supported through Monterey.

Tahoe should be supported until 2028, but Tahoe doesn't support the 2018 mini.

 

[Boyd01]

The standard is three years of support. It's currently 2025. Three years from now will be 2028.

Right... but Sequoia was released in 2024, which implies 2027. We'll probably just have to wait and see. All things considered, I got my 2018 Mini exactly 5 years ago and figured it would last 5 years. So, it's met my expectation there but I would still prefer to continue as long as I can. Time will tell...

 

[deeveedee]

My hack with specs very close to a MacMini8,1 is running Tahoe. The folks at Acidanthera (for Open Core) and CorpNewt (for USBMap) are extending the life of the MacMini8,1. So far, Tahoe installs and runs without root patches (SIP still fully enabled and APFS seal is unbroken). If I can fix Ethernet without installing root patches, this will continue to be my main rig. Just be patient - I think the Open Core folks and their associates will be working miracles.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Right... but Sequoia was released in 2024, which implies 2027.

It seems to be three years from the date the OS was replaced. So Mavericks was released in 2013, replaced by Yosemite in 2014, and received its last security update was in 2016. High Sierra was released in 2017, replaced by Mojave in 2018, and received its last security update in 2020.

Edit: But that still means Sequoia support ends in Fall 2027, not 2028. That's only the difference of a few months, however. It's unlikely that any major security vulnerabilities will be found in that time. If they are, maybe Apple would release a patch, but I predict the issue won't come up in the first place.

 

[iAssimilated]

It seems to be three years from the date the OS was replaced. So Mavericks was released in 2013, replaced by Yosemite in 2014, and received its last security update was in 2016. High Sierra was released in 2017, replaced by Mojave in 2018, and received its last security update in 2020.

Edit: But that still means Sequoia support ends in Fall 2027, not 2028. That's only the difference of a few months, however. It's unlikely that any major security vulnerabilities will be found in that time. If they are, maybe Apple would release a patch, but I predict the issue won't come up in the first place.

Apple does security updates for two years from the year a macOS version is replaced (at least in recent years).

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Apple does security updates for two years from the year a macOS version is replaced (at least in recent years).

Oh, they lowered it?

 

[iAssimilated]

Oh, they lowered it?

Three years of total support from release (from wikipedia):

So Ventura will get it's last update before Tahoe is released. Sequoia will receive it's last update in Fall 2027.

 

[iHorseHead]

Oh, they lowered it?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/120910 -> The last update of macSO Monterey was in July 29, 2024 and the OS was released in 25 October 2021, so it's still roughly three years of updates.

 

[Siliconguy]

Oh, they lowered it?

Yes. Look at the last set of Mac OS updates. The list was Sequoia (15), Sonoma(14), and Ventura (13). Current plus previous two. Ventura support will drop when Tahoe ships, Sonoma will have one more year.

This pattern has been going on a long time.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Apple did officially say during the platform state of the union that Tahoe for Intel will get three years of security updates, meaning that small list of 2019/20 MBPs, 2019 MacPros and 2020 iMacs will officially get software support until 2029.
Not sure what that means for Sequoia, but Apple have released updates for iOS 15 this year, four years after that was new.
I think it’s safe to say though that through September 2027, sequoia should receive normal security releases.

 

[iAssimilated]

Apple did officially say during the platform state of the union that Tahoe for Intel will get three years of security updates, meaning that small list of 2019/20 MBPs, 2019 MacPros and 2020 iMacs will officially get software support until 2029.
Not sure what that means for Sequoia, but Apple have released updates for iOS 15 this year, four years after that was new.
I think it’s safe to say though that through September 2027, sequoia should receive normal security releases.

Good to know. Unfortunately, I have not seen Apple care as much for security updates for Macs versus iDevices though.

 

[Hajj.david]

Id like to note occasional serious security patches come long after the general security updates but after 5 years or so of being discontinued it becomes a bit sketchy

 

[heyfrasr]

Guess around 2030 will have no software support anymore

 

[kvic]

Apple did officially say during the platform state of the union that Tahoe for Intel will get three years of security updates

I believe the "three years of security updates" just means the normal three years of update with countdown starting right after a major macOS version released.

So x86-64 update will stop with macOS Tahoe in fall 2028.

 

[MacCheetah3]

Well… Let’s review (recents):

macOS 10.10 Yosemite
Oct. 16, 2014 - July 19, 2017 (1008 or 2 years, 9 months, 4 days)

macOS 10.11 El Capitan
Sep. 30, 2015 - July 9, 2018 (1014 or 2 years, 9 months, 10 days)

macOS 10.12 Sierra
Sep. 20, 2016 - Sep. 26, 2019 (1102 or 3 years, 7 days)

macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Sep. 25, 2017 - Nov 12, 2020 (1145 days or 3 years, 1 month, 19 days)

macOS 10.14 Mojave
Sep. 24, 2018 - July 21, 2021 (1032 days or 2 years, 9 months, 28 days)

macOS 10.15 Catalina
Oct. 7, 2019 - July 20, 2022 (1018 days or 2 years, 9 months, 14 days)

macOS 11 Big Sur
Nov. 12, 2020 - Sep. 11, 2023 (1034 or 2 years, 10 months)

macOS 12 Monterey
Oct. 25, 2021 - July 29, 2024 (1009 or 2 years, 9 months, 5 days)

macOS 13 Ventura
Oct. 24, 2022 - May 12, 2025 (932 or 2 years, 6 months, 19 days)
* So far

The average being 1,033 days from release to last (security) update. If we add that to Sep. 16, 2024 (i.e., macOS 15 Sequoia launch), we get:

July 16, 2027