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even when apple does stop supporting intel macs, they will continue to run. as to when that is, we can only speculate. but i agree, it's not going to happen with OS 15 (altho i could be wrong; i was wrong once before...)
That's not the problem, of course they will still run the OS, but software vendors will then soon start dropping Intel binaries, making them effectively useless when we need to do software upgrades.
 
That's not the problem, of course they will still run the OS, but software vendors will then soon start dropping Intel binaries, making them effectively useless when we need to do software upgrades.
well, then you won't update an app (that requires a silicon processor). then, one day, when you're ready, you'll move to a new mac.

millions of people work on older OSes, older versions of office, ad infinitum. and life goes on (and all is well).
 
I'd be surprised if Mac OS 14 is the last version for Intel. I think Mac OS 15 would be the last version. Mac OS 15 for Intel would be virtually a patch update. There might be a chance Mac OS 15 Intel would get some new features, and Mac OS 16 would be the patch only update, with Mac OS 17 being M only.

I think the first two version of Mac OS for Apple Silicon can be hacked to run on Intel machines. Someone got Snow Leopard, intel only, to run on Power PCs.
No, there actually WAS a PowerPC version of Snow Leopard made... but it was pretty useless, as the App Store had no PPC apps and there were no PPC updates, etc. It was a dead-end, from the get-go.

... but I want macOS Sonoma to run on my PowerPC G4 QuickSilver! 🤣
 
They have to support the 2019 Mac Pro and 2020 iMac 5 years after the official off-self date, which was June 2023 when the M2 Ultra Mac Pro launch.

Future macOS though, are not guaranteed to support other Intel Macs that went off-shelf earlier than that, as Apple can just stop including drivers for them except the ones they have to support. But at least an x86 kernel has to be there.
 
They have to support the 2019 Mac Pro and 2020 iMac 5 years after the official off-self date, which was June 2023 when the M2 Ultra Mac Pro launch.

Future macOS though, are not guaranteed to support other Intel Macs that went off-shelf earlier than that, as Apple can just stop including drivers for them except the ones they have to support. But at least an x86 kernel has to be there.
Why do they have to support it?
 
Why do they have to support it?
There is a semi-official practice within Apple to classify off-self products as vintage (5-7 years) and obsolete (7 years+).
This typically only concerns hardware repairs as this directly affects availability of parts. Software / OS schedule does not need to adhere to this, but they usually do (with some unfortunate exception, like the 2017 iMac 5K that doesn't get Sonoma despite not yet deemed "vintage")

I imagine Intel Mac support may be subject to a higher pressure to off load, since this translates into a lot of man-hours saved if Apple can call off all Intel support ASAP. So yes, the worst case scenario is only 3 years, which is the AC+ and also corporate lease terms from Apple.
 
They have to support the 2019 Mac Pro and 2020 iMac 5 years after the official off-self date, which was June 2023 when the M2 Ultra Mac Pro launch.

The first Intel Macs shipped with 10.4 Tiger, and support for PowerPC was dropped entirely in 10.6 Snow Leopard, just two years later.

The last PowerPC Mac was introduced in 2005, and Leopard, the last macOS release for PowerPC, was released in 2007.

Apple doesn’t have to do anything. (If there will be a class action or not is of course a different matter.)
 
No there wasn't.


Your source please?
As you wish... right here:



I don't say stuff without KNOWING I'm right, first. And I never say stuff expecting people to automatically believe me, hence why I just provided two links to PROVE what I've said is legit.

Google is your friend... 😁

"You can lead a man to wisdom, but you cannot make him wise."
 
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The first Intel Macs shipped with 10.4 Tiger, and support for PowerPC was dropped entirely in 10.6 Snow Leopard, just two years later.

The last PowerPC Mac was introduced in 2005, and Leopard, the last macOS release for PowerPC, was released in 2007.

Apple doesn’t have to do anything. (If there will be a class action or not is of course a different matter.)
In this case, the actual "support" of PPC OS X didn't stop when Snow Leopard dropped, these PPC Macs just couldn't get the newest OS with newest features, but Tiger and Leopard kept on getting I think 2 more years of security updates each. The 2 year security gap is still an industry standard today, I suppose the worst case scenario for Intel Macs can be like this.
 
In this case, the actual "support" of PPC OS X didn't stop when Snow Leopard dropped, these PPC Macs just couldn't get the newest OS with newest features, but Tiger and Leopard kept on getting I think 2 more years of security updates each. The 2 year security gap is still an industry standard today, I suppose the worst case scenario for Intel Macs can be like this.

OP: I wonder if Apple will drop support for Intel Macs this year from the upcoming macOS?

It is quite clear that "support" in this context refers to the ability to install new major releases of the operating system.

In other news, I just updated my iPhone 3GS to iOS 9.3.6. (The patch was released in 2019, I just hadn't noticed it until now, but iOS 9 was already four years old at the time, and the phone was 10 years old.)
 
OP: I wonder if Apple will drop support for Intel Macs this year from the upcoming macOS?

It is quite clear that "support" in this context refers to the ability to install new major releases of the operating system.

In other news, I just updated my iPhone 3GS to iOS 9.3.6. (The patch was released in 2019, I just hadn't noticed it until now, but iOS 9 was already four years old at the time, and the phone was 10 years old.)
You are correct. The word "support" can have different meaning for different context. Apple is only legally required to handle security patches within the 3 year warranty period, and perhaps 7-10 years of hardware parts for some countries. So in terms of software, anything extra can be considered freebies.
 
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For the original question, I'm going with a no. Not least because it's only been about 8 months since you could last buy an Intel Mac new. What you'll see though are progressively more features on MacOS 15 onwards that are only available on Mx Macs, with Intel users being sidelined like paupers. This has started already in MacOS 14 (may have even been earlier). And there will come a time where your favourite / necessary third-party app purchase or upgrade will only be available to Mx users, again sidelining you like a pauper.
 
For the original question, I'm going with a no. Not least because it's only been about 8 months since you could last buy an Intel Mac new. What you'll see though are progressively more features on MacOS 15 onwards that are only available on Mx Macs, with Intel users being sidelined like paupers. This has started already in MacOS 14 (may have even been earlier). And there will come a time where your favourite / necessary third-party app purchase or upgrade will only be available to Mx users, again sidelining you like a pauper.
I think you're right. My prediction is that basically no new features will be available for Intel in macOS 15 and macOS 16, and macOS 17 will drop Intel support entirely.
 
I think you're right. My prediction is that basically no new features will be available for Intel in macOS 15 and macOS 16, and macOS 17 will drop Intel support entirely.
Part of me would be surprised if MacOS17 drops support for what will only be 3-4 y/o Macs. But part of me wouldn't, because this is Apple we're talking about.
 
Part of me would be surprised if MacOS17 drops support for what will only be 3-4 y/o Macs. But part of me wouldn't, because this is Apple we're talking about.
The Intel Mac Pro was launched in August 2006, meaning that's when the last PowerPC Power Mac G5 model was discontinued. Snow Leopard launched as Intel-only in August 2009, so 3 years.

Additionally the last remaining Intel Mac was the Mac Pro, and pro users tend to not upgrade to brand new operating systems right away (if at all) due to potential compatibility issues with their setups.

Further food for thought - by the time macOS 17 is released in (presumably) 2026 the first M1 machines will be going on 6 years old and some of them will begin approaching vintage age themselves (the 13" MBP M1 in summer 2027; the M1 mini and M1 Pro/Max 14/16 MBP in January 2028).
 
What about 2019, 16" i7 or i9 Macbook Pros?

Apple sold them between November of 2019, and November 2021..

People also bought them in 2021..

Do you think these machines will support iOS15?

If Apple cuts its support with the MacOS 14 (Sonoma) wouldn't that be too soon?
 
What about 2019, 16" i7 or i9 Macbook Pros?

Apple sold them between November of 2019, and November 2021..

People also bought them in 2021..

Do you think these machines will support iOS15?

If Apple cuts its support with the MacOS 14 (Sonoma) wouldn't that be too soon?

Given that the Mac Pro did not make the jump to Apple Silicon until last year, I would believe that the earliest Apple would kill all Intel support would be 2026. As far as specific models of MacBook Pro are concerned, a lot of factors would affect how long specific models or configurations are supported.
 
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If Apple is cool they support the 2019 and 2020 computers with macOS 16 (or even 17) so that these models receive at least 6 major updates. Of course not every feature will be available on Intel Macs, but I'm totally fine with that.

Cannot and will not imagine that macOS 15 will cut all Intel support.
 
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