[News] Apple Ends Intel Mac Support with macOS 26 “Tahoe,” Finalizing Move to Apple Silicon

According to 9to5Mac, Apple announced that macOS 26 “Tahoe” will be the final version to support Intel-based Macs. Beginning next year, all major macOS updates will be available only for Apple Silicon models—those introduced since the M1 chip debuted in 2020.

The report indicates that Apple has already begun phasing out support for certain Intel-based Macs. For example, macOS Tahoe is not compatible with any Intel MacBook Air or Mac mini. However, it still supports a few Intel models, including the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 Intel 13-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro.

Meanwhile, the report notes that macOS 27 is expected to end support for all remaining Intel Macs.

As things progress, only Macs released in 2020 or later will meet the hardware requirements for upcoming macOS versions. Macs with Intel processors released prior to 2020 will no longer receive major updates—reflecting Apple’s full transition to its own silicon architecture, as the report highlights.

As Engadget notes, Apple launched its first Apple Silicon chip in 2020, and all Macs since have run on its in-house processors. Built on ARM architecture, Apple Silicon offers greater efficiency than Intel’s x86 chips. While many Intel Macs have already lost support, today’s update effectively sets a cutoff point for the remaining models, as noted by Engadget.

Apple Silicon Expansion Beyond the Mac

Apple’s in-house chip development is extending beyond the Mac. For example, the iPhone 16e features the Apple C1—the company’s first self-designed cellular modem. Apple is also reportedly developing its own AI server chip. The chip is reportedly being designed by Apple’s Israel-based semiconductor team—the same group behind Apple Silicon, as noted by The Information cited by The Verge. Apple is reportedly working with Broadcom on the chip to reduce reliance on NVIDIA, and the chip is expected to be built using TSMC’s advanced N3P process, according to Commercial Times, citing The Information.

Read more

• [News] Apple Unveils Its First In-House Modem, Moving Away from Qualcomm
• [News] Apple Reportedly Plans Smart Glasses Chip by Late 2026, First AI Server Chip by 2027

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