After a really lengthy wait, Apple lastly introduced a brand new model of the Mac Professional powered by the M2 Extremely chip. Consequently, the transition to Apple Silicon is now full, and the corporate not sells any Intel Macs. For customers, this might imply that it received’t take lengthy earlier than macOS drops assist for Intel Macs.

From PowerPC to Intel

First, let’s revisit the previous. This isn’t the primary time that Macs have transitioned from one structure to a different. In 2005, Apple introduced that it will swap from PowerPC processors to Intel. On the time, Intel had a lot sooner and extra environment friendly processors than PowerPC, which allowed Apple to create extra fashionable computer systems – reminiscent of the primary MacBook Air.

Apple stated the transition would start in June 2006 and be completed by the tip of 2007. The primary Intel Mac was introduced in January 2006. Nonetheless, the transition to Intel was totally accomplished in August 2006 when the corporate changed the PowerMac with the primary Intel Mac Professional.

The next yr, Apple launched Mac OS X Leopard, the final model of the working system to assist PowerPC Macs. In 2009, Mac OS X Snow Leopard formally dropped assist for these Macs, changing into the primary model to require Intel processors. In brief, Apple stored supporting PowerPC Macs for 3 years after introducing the primary Intel Mac.

Apple Silicon Macs

Because the years glided by, Apple as soon as once more felt the necessity to have extra highly effective and environment friendly processors for its computer systems. This time, the corporate was already working by itself chips for the iPhone and iPad. In June 2020, Apple confirmed that it was altering the structure of the Mac, now from Intel to ARM chips, that are referred to as Apple Silicon.

The primary Apple Silicon Macs have been launched in November 2020 with the M1 chip, and Apple stated the transition can be accomplished by 2022. Nonetheless, finishing the revamped Mac lineup took a bit longer than anticipated, and that’s due to the Mac Professional.

However now, Apple has lastly transitioned the complete lineup of Macs to Apple Silicon chips. The 2019 Mac Professional with Intel processor is not stocked in shops (no less than formally). So how for much longer will Apple hold offering macOS updates for Intel Macs?

macOS Sonoma

Along with the brand new Mac Professional, Apple additionally introduced macOS Sonoma at WWDC 2023 earlier this week. The replace doesn’t carry any vital adjustments, aside from some enhancements to FaceTime, interactive widgets on the desktop, and a brand new API for porting Home windows video games to the Mac. Besides, Apple has dropped assist for some Intel Macs with the replace.

As an illustration, not one of the iconic 12-inch MacBooks can run the brand new model of macOS. The 2017 MacBook Professional received’t get the replace both. On the subject of the iMac, whereas the 2017 iMac was the oldest supported mannequin on macOS Ventura, the replace to macOS Sonoma requires the 2019 iMac or newer.

Proper now, these are the Intel Macs supported by the newest model of macOS:

• 2017 iMac Professional
• 2018 Mac mini
• 2018 MacBook Air
• 2018 MacBook Professional
• 2019 MacBook Air
• 2019 MacBook Professional
• 2019 iMac
• 2019 Mac Professional
• 2020 MacBook Air
• 2020 MacBook Professional
• 2020 iMac

The way forward for macOS updates for Intel Macs

Solely Apple is aware of for certain what the roadmap is for macOS updates. Nonetheless, if I needed to take a guess, I’d say that the subsequent main launch of macOS to be introduced in 2024 would be the final one for Intel Macs.

It’s been nearly three years since M1 was launched, and by the point macOS 15 is launched to the general public in 2024, it should have been 4 years. Personally, I speculate that macOS 15 will drop assist for the 2017 iMac Professional, the 2018 Macs, and most 2019 Macs. If that’s the case, Apple would give an additional yr of updates to those that purchased an Intel Mac in 2020 (and the 2019 Mac Professional).

Even Intel Macs supported by macOS Sonoma wrestle with the shortage of some necessary options, reminiscent of Presenter Overlay on FaceTime, 3D Reactions, and Sport Mode. These Macs additionally don’t assist some options of macOS Ventura that depend on the Neural Engine in Apple Silicon chips, reminiscent of Stay Captions.

Wrap up

After all, even when these Macs not get new variations of macOS, I’m certain Apple will preserve primary assist with safety patches for no less than one other two years for these machines. In spite of everything, they nonetheless work fairly properly for some duties.

However on the identical time, eliminating Intel Macs ought to permit Apple to put money into much more options that reap the benefits of Apple Silicon structure.

Do you continue to personal an Intel Mac? Are you planning to improve to an Apple Silicon Mac quickly? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.