macOS Tahoe Might Support One Fewer Mac Than Previously Rumored

[MacRumors]

macOS 26 will drop support for several older Intel-based Mac models currently compatible with macOS Sequoia, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of leaking information about Apple's software platforms.

macOS 26 will be compatible with the following Mac models, the account said:

• MacBook Air (M1 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2019 and later)
• iMac (2020 and later)
• Mac mini (M1 and later)
• Mac Studio (all models)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)

That is the exact same list that was previously reported by AppleInsider, but there could be one slight difference, the leaker said with uncertainty.

According to the private account on X, it is said that macOS 26 will also drop support for the MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports). However, the account said they "don't quite believe" that, so do not put too much stock into that particular claim. Just know that this particular model is potentially on the chopping block too.

We do not link to the account due to its private nature, but we consider it to be a reliable source.

macOS 26 is rumored to be named macOS Tahoe. Apple will announce the software update during its WWDC 2025 keynote, which begins on Monday.

Article Link: macOS Tahoe Might Support One Fewer Mac Than Previously Rumored

 

[MacUserFella]

My iMac Pro 💔🥀

 

[Jay Tee]

I’m curious to understand how my M1 iMac performs when running code optimized for Apple Silicon chips.
To that extent, I hope this is the last Intel-compatible macOS.

 

[tomtad]

Time to go all in on Mac silicon

 

[xyz01]

I’m curious to understand how my M1 iMac performs when running code optimized for Apple Silicon chips.
To that extent, I hope this is the last Intel-compatible macOS.

It will run just as it does now. The code is already optimized for M1.

You don't think Apple has been shipping unoptimized code all this time?

 

[GioGiusi]

Pretty soon this list is going to be basically “M1 and later” across the board for a long, long time.

 

[cjsuk]

Pretty soon this list is going to be basically “M1 and later” across the board for a long, long time.

Yep. That’s the first silicon they control so they aren’t limited by intel’s microcode obsolescence cycle. I suspect they will be supported for 7-9 years easily and then still get software updates for a bit after that.

 

[ksec]

Pretty soon this list is going to be basically “M1 and later” across the board for a long, long time.

I think that will be next year. M1 or Later. Until 2029 / 2030 when they drop the M1.

Although honestly I think dropping future M series has far more to do with NPU and GPU than CPU itself.

 

[VivienM]

It will run just as it does now. The code is already optimized for M1.

You don't think Apple has been shipping unoptimized code all this time?

To be fair, that's exactly what they did with the classic OS. 'Here's an emulator, now run an OS that's almost entirely 68K code'.

But yes, in OS X land, they've always, always recompiled the whole OS and the whole Apple software suite for the new CPU family before... well, before shipping the DTKs.

 

[VivienM]

Yep. That’s the first silicon they control so they aren’t limited by intel’s microcode obsolescence cycle. I suspect they will be supported for 7-9 years easily and then still get software updates for a bit after that.

I don't buy the idea that Apple would have Intel's microcode lifecycle policies imposed on it. Apple probably bought more high-end Intel chips than just about anybody else, so surely Intel would support them a year or two longer if Apple asked nicely...

Also, I don't think that's too consistent with how the support cycles got longer for Intel machines in the first half of the 2010s, the ones that got 8 OS versions.

I was just doing a little bit of Wikipediaing, it actually seems strangely consistent that the recent policy is 7 OS versions for iMac/MacBook Pro/etc, and 6 for MacBook Air.

 

[bluecoast]

Pretty soon this list is going to be basically “M1 and later” across the board for a long, long time.

It’s going to be interesting as to when that will be.

I suspect it might be next year when - presumably - Apple will finally get its act together and infuse macOS with AI a lot more, which will need Mx to work.

 

[TheOldChevy]

I still hope my Intel mini will get it, but I would not bet on it.

 

[spaxxedout]

This is a weird strategy to hold onto Intel for one more cycle for like… two computers, especially with the rebrand. I get those had the coprocessor, but still an odd, odd choice.

 

[VivienM]

This is a weird strategy to hold onto Intel for one more cycle for like… two computers, especially with the rebrand. I get those had the coprocessor, but still an odd, odd choice.

Two? The rumoured list of supported Intel machines is longer than two...

 

[mcnallym]

I think that will be next year. M1 or Later. Until 2029 / 2030 when they drop the M1.

Although honestly I think dropping future M series has far more to do with NPU and GPU than CPU itself.

Hey when I bought my M1 Studio then the apple employee that was dealing with said I was set for ten years. That was only 3 years ago. It had better go for another 7.
I think when apple came up with that 10 year quote they may have regretted it.

 

[theirongiant]

I think this new info is probably accurate. The 2020 MBP with 2 Thunderbolt ports has an 8th gen Intel Core CPU (Coffee Lake). That's the same as the 2018-2019 MacBook Pro's.

That particular 2020 MBP was a COVID special: it was only available for six months from May-November 2020. Apple likely did this to meet a sudden demand for computers at home, and could do so cheaply with older hardware.

Frankly, I think it deserves the ignoble "Road Apple" accolade by LowEndMac.com.

 

[VivienM]

Hey when I bought my M1 Studio then the apple employee that was dealing with said I was set for ten years. That was only 3 years ago. It had better go for another 7.
I think when apple came up with that 10 year quote they may have regretted it.

Well, assume 7 OS updates + two years of security patches, that's... close... to 10 years?

 

[VivienM]

I think this new info is probably accurate. The 2020 MBP with 2 Thunderbolt ports has an 8th gen Intel Core CPU (Coffee Lake). That's the same as the 2018-2019 systems. That computer was a COVID special and was only available for six months.

Wasn't the point there to dump the butterfly keyboards? And perhaps to preview the case design that would continue to be used with the first ARM models?

 

[Le0M]

Hey when I bought my M1 Studio then the apple employee that was dealing with said I was set for ten years. That was only 3 years ago. It had better go for another 7.
I think when apple came up with that 10 year quote they may have regretted it.

Well, it's not like you can go back to the Apple Store and tell them "... but you told me it would receive updates for 10 years! "

 

[Corefile]

Why would they support very few Intel Macs as that makes no sense. Even M1 is on shaky ground.

 

[VivienM]

Why would they support very few Intel Macs as that makes no sense. Even M1 is on shaky ground.

Because a lot of expensive Intel Macs were for sale less than four years ago? The real pro MBPs with M1 Pro/Max shipped in October 2021, the Mac studio didn't replace the 27" iMac until early 2022. If you needed a higher-end Mac throughout most of 2021, you didn't have a choice but to cringe and buy an Intel.

It would be a real real dick move to dump those last Intel machines now. (Of course, that's exactly what they did to the G5 machines in 2009)

 

[Jay Tee]

It will run just as it does now. The code is already optimized for M1.

You don't think Apple has been shipping unoptimized code all this time?

But yes, in OS X land, they've always, always recompiled the whole OS and the whole Apple software suite for the new CPU family before... well, before shipping the DTKs.

While Apple may have recompiled the entire OS and apps, yet they maintain dual-architecture, ie. universal binaries, support for a while and only later drop the older architecture.

 

[pshufd]

My iMac Pro 💔🥀

Just run it for another couple of years on security updates. That's what I'm doing.

 

[johnediii]

Over the summer our school has a policy that we will no longer give out Intel MacBook Airs. We have fewer than 80 left in the environment. They are all the early 2020 model. They are so much slower than the M1 MacBook Airs which is by far our most prevalent model. I think we're 90% M1s for our students. Tahoe is our chance to ditch the rest of the Intels as they are not supported. We've been pushing hard for OS parity across all lines but we still had some previous gen (Non-retina) Airs this past year that were stuck on Monterey.

 

[oldmacs]

Slack slack slack. The 2018 Mac mini should still be getting updates given it was sold up to 2 years ago.