macOS 27: Four Intel Macs fall behind

This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.

With macOS 27, Apple is making a historic break: It's the first macOS version that runs exclusively on Apple Silicon Macs. Four well-known Intel models, which still work with macOS Tahoe, are excluded. The list has been finalized for almost a year – Apple announced the move in advance.

WWDC 2026 is approaching, and with it, the official unveiling of macOS 27. While speculation abounds about new features, a revamped Siri, and the next Liquid Glass update, at least one thing is already clear: four older Mac models will be discontinued. This makes macOS 27 the first generation of Mac software to function entirely without Intel support – a turning point that Apple already announced at WWDC 2025. At that time, Apple declared macOS Tahoe the last version with Intel support, thus drawing a clear line under a 19-year Intel era. In detail, macOS 26 has been preparing for this transition for months, including hints from the macOS 26.4 point update, which initiated the final phase for Rosetta 2 with initial warnings about Intel apps.

These four Macs will lose their update support with macOS 27

Apple itself has not yet released an official compatibility list for macOS 27 – this traditionally happens only during the WWDC keynote. However, based on the information already confirmed, it's possible to precisely determine which models will no longer be supported. These are exactly the last four Intel Macs that will still be supported by macOS Tahoe:

• MacBook Pro 16-inch from 2019
• 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
• iMac from 2020
• Mac Pro from 2019

These four models were the only Intel-based devices that Apple still supported with a major update, macOS Tahoe. With the jump to macOS 27, this special treatment ends. Anyone using one of these devices for work should expect a complete cessation of new features.

Why this step is different from the usual update cuts

Apple removes older models from its compatibility list every year – it's routine. Nevertheless, macOS 27 marks a historic turning point. Until now, there were always at least a few Intel Macs that received a new macOS update, even if some features were missing. With macOS 27, this bridge has been severed: there is no longer a single Intel Mac that can install the new version. This marks the end of an era that began in 2006 when Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel.

The transition to Apple Silicon took around six years. In November 2020, Apple introduced the first M1 Macs, and in June 2023, the M2 Ultra Mac Pro replaced the last Intel model still being sold. With macOS 27, the software is now also drawing the line – and Apple can finally optimize macOS exclusively for its own chip architecture.

What happens to Intel Macs after macOS Tahoe

For owners of the four affected models, the situation is significant, but not immediately critical. macOS Tahoe will remain installable and functional on these devices after the launch of macOS 27. Apple has also announced that it will provide security updates for approximately three years after the end of major version support. This means that patches for critical vulnerabilities are expected to continue to be released for these devices until around 2029.

What's missing are new features, design updates, and Apple Intelligence enhancements. Those who primarily use an Intel Mac for classic office tasks, web browsing, or email can continue using their device for a long time. However, those who actively work with the latest apps or want to benefit from AI features will inevitably have to switch to Apple Silicon in the medium term. Parallel to the hardware issue, the end of Rosetta 2 is also playing out: Apple has confirmed that macOS 27 will be the last update with full Rosetta 2 support – Intel apps will only be supported in a very limited way starting with macOS 28.

Apple Silicon Macs remain fully compatible

Good news for everyone who switched to Apple Silicon in recent years: macOS 27 will most likely not discontinue support for any Apple Silicon Macs. Even the first M1 models from late 2020 will remain compatible – Apple has continued to support every model of every M generation in every new macOS version since the transition. Realistically, M1 Macs will be supported for at least two to three more major macOS releases before the next major cut.

This clearly marks the break at the architectural boundary: everything with Apple Silicon will get macOS 27, everything with an Intel processor will remain on macOS Tahoe. For Apple, this separation is the biggest technological breakthrough ever, because software development can now focus on a single platform.

What this move means strategically

The consequences extend beyond mere update policy. With macOS 27, Apple can, for the first time, completely forgo Intel compatibility – this opens up possibilities for deeper optimizations, new security features, and tighter integration between hardware and software. Apple Intelligence, which increasingly makes hardware-specific demands, benefits directly from this. The overall system performance should also improve because two parallel code paths are eliminated.

Strategically parallel to the macOS cut, a second strategy is underway: Apple is also expected to discontinue support for four older iPhone models with iOS 27. Both steps demonstrate that Apple is consistently completing the platform transitions of recent years – both in the Mac segment and in the mobile sector.

What owners of an affected Mac should check now

Owners of a 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019), 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, with four Thunderbolt 3 ports), iMac (2020), or Mac Pro (2019) should consider the next two to three years. Security updates will continue, but new features will not. For those already thinking about a new Mac, macOS 27 sends a clear message: Intel-based devices will now be permanently left behind in the current Apple ecosystem. Those satisfied with their current configuration, however, can plan the upgrade without rushing – but it will eventually be necessary.

Apple will announce the official compatibility list for macOS 27 at WWDC on June 8, 2026. While the situation will be largely clear by then, final confirmation is still pending. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / D_Zheleva)

• WWDC 2026: Apple confirms date, program and streaming details
• Indian antitrust case: Apple gets a two-month extension – but must deliver
• Apple's secret business: How defective chips become a multi-million dollar cost-saving model
• Apple and Epic set a timetable for new commission negotiations
• AirPods Max: Designer Whang reveals details from five years of development
• WhatsApp is now rolling out Liquid Glass more broadly on iOS
• Court draws Federighi into xAI lawsuit – Cook remains uninvolved
• Codex is moving into the ChatGPT mobile app
• iPhone 18: Apple Modem Brings a Hidden Privacy Benefit
• Intel manufactures chips for iPhone, iPad and Mac for the first time – Apple production is underway
• OpenAI is preparing legal action against Apple over its Siri partnership
• Anthropic's Mythos Uncovers New macOS Vulnerabilities – Apple Reviews Report
• Shrinking Season 4: Filming starts next week – premiere possible in early 2027
• iPhone 17 Pro charges faster than 32 other smartphones in the test
• Unlocked iPhones bring thieves up to $800 more
• Apple's F1 plans in Europe: Sky secures key markets early
• Evercore raises Apple price target to $365 – Confidence in Apple Intelligence
• Tim Cook in Beijing: Trump Delegation with Musk and Wall Street Leaders
• Margo's Got Money Troubles: Apple TV orders second season
• Safari 26.5: Security update closes 20 WebKit vulnerabilities
• WhatsApp introduces Incognito Chats with Meta AI