Apple Announces Final Release for Intel Macs with macOS Tahoe

Apple has officially declared that Macs equipped with Intel chips will no longer receive major software updates following the release of macOS Tahoe, which is scheduled for this fall. This announcement was made by Matthew Firlik, Apple’s senior director of developer relations, during the WWDC Platforms State of the Union keynote. Firlik stated that macOS Tahoe “will be the final release for Intel Macs.”

Since transitioning to its own After launching its first in-house processor in 2020, Apple has been gradually moving away from Intel, culminating in the launch of the Mac Pro in 2023. According to Apple spokesperson Lauren Klug, Intel-based Macs that are compatible with macOS Tahoe, such as the 16-inch MacBook Pro released in 2019, will continue to receive security updates for three years after the release of the new operating system.

“Apple silicon enables us all to achieve things that were previously unimaginable, and it’s time to put all of our focus and innovation there,” Firlik emphasized. He encouraged developers to assist users in migrating to the Apple silicon versions of their applications, stating, “If you’ve not done so already, now is a great time to help your users migrate to the Apple silicon versions of your apps.”

Compatible Devices for macOS Tahoe

Below is a comprehensive list of devices that are compatible with macOS Tahoe, as outlined in the announcement:

• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• iMac (2020 and later)
• Mac mini (2020 and later)
• Mac Studio (2022 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)

Features of macOS Tahoe

Apple is also carrying over its new Liquid Glass design programming language to macOS Tahoe. Additionally, the new operating system will include various features such as several new features, support for the iPhone’s Live Activities, and the Phone app.

As Apple continues to innovate and enhance its software ecosystem, the transition from Intel to Apple silicon marks a significant shift in the company’s strategy. Users of Intel-based Macs are encouraged to consider upgrading to newer models to take full advantage of the latest features and improvements.

For more information on the transition and the features of macOS Tahoe, please refer to the official announcements and documentation provided by Apple.