Apple is set to unveil macOS 27 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in just a few weeks, and the company has already confirmed that the latest version of its desktop operating system will lack compatibility with at least four Mac models. This move signals a definitive end to Intel-based Mac support, as macOS 27 becomes the first release to require Apple Silicon processors. The transition, which began in 2020 with the introduction of the M1 chip, is now reaching its final phase, leaving users of legacy Intel hardware with a clear choice: upgrade or remain on an older, unsupported operating system.
The four Macs that will be dropped are the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019), the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, with four Thunderbolt 3 ports), the iMac (2020), and the Mac Pro (2019). These models represent the last Intel-based machines that Apple sold before the full switch to Apple Silicon. Last year, during WWDC 2025, Apple explicitly warned that macOS Tahoe would be the final version to support Intel Macs, giving users a full year to prepare for the transition. Now, with macOS 27, that promise becomes reality: these four models will not be able to install or run the new operating system.
Why Apple Is Ending Intel Mac Support
Apple’s move to its own custom silicon began in June 2020, when the company announced it would transition from Intel processors to chips designed in-house. The M1 chip debuted later that year in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, offering significant improvements in performance, power efficiency, and integration with iOS apps. Over the following years, Apple expanded the lineup with the M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2 family, M3 family, and the recently released M4 series. With each generation, the advantages of Apple Silicon became more pronounced, and Intel Macs became increasingly rare in Apple’s product lineup. By 2024, Apple had stopped selling any new Intel-based Macs, making the 2019 Mac Pro and 2020 iMac the last Intel holdovers.
Ending software support for Intel Macs is a natural step for Apple. Maintaining two separate architectural branches of macOS requires additional engineering resources, and the company can now focus entirely on optimizing the operating system for its own chips. This allows for deeper integration of hardware and software, enabling features that would be impossible or inefficient on Intel processors. For example, Apple’s unified memory architecture, advanced GPU compute, and machine learning accelerators are tightly coupled with macOS, and future updates will likely leverage these capabilities even more. Dropping Intel support also streamlines the development process, allowing Apple to deliver updates faster and with fewer legacy compatibility issues.
What This Means for Users of Affected Macs
Owners of the four affected Mac models will not be able to upgrade to macOS 27, meaning they will miss out on new features, security patches, and performance improvements that come with the latest version. However, this does not mean their Macs will become immediately obsolete. Apple typically continues to provide security updates for the previous version of macOS for at least two years after a new release, so users of macOS Tahoe will still receive critical fixes for some time. Additionally, many third-party applications will continue to support older macOS versions for a while, though developers may gradually shift their focus to Apple Silicon-native builds.
For users who rely on Intel Macs for professional work—such as the Mac Pro owners running demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or scientific computing—the lack of macOS 27 support may be a strong incentive to upgrade. The Mac Pro (2019) is particularly noteworthy: it was Apple’s most powerful Intel machine, designed for high-end workflows. While it remains capable, it is now two full architecture generations behind. Apple has already released the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra and M4 Ultra chips, offering substantial performance gains and better thermal efficiency. The iMac (2020), with its 27-inch 5K display, is also a favorite among creative professionals, but it too has been succeeded by the 24-inch M3 iMac and the larger Apple Studio Display paired with a Mac mini or Mac Studio.
Historical Context: Apple’s Previous Architecture Transitions
This is not the first time Apple has dropped support for an entire processor architecture. The company previously transitioned from PowerPC to Intel in 2005-2006, and the last version of Mac OS X to support PowerPC was Snow Leopard (10.6) with a special release for older Macs. After that, Lion (10.7) and later versions required Intel processors. The transition to Apple Silicon has been smoother in some ways, because Apple provided Rosetta 2 translation software to run Intel apps on Apple Silicon Macs. However, with macOS 27, the company is taking the final step of removing Intel boot compatibility entirely, ensuring that all native macOS development focuses on Apple Silicon.
The move also mirrors what Apple is doing with its other operating systems. Rumors indicate that iOS 27 will drop support for four iPhone models this year, likely the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone SE (2020) or similar. This pattern of cutting off older devices after several years of support is consistent with Apple’s strategy of encouraging hardware upgrades while maintaining a streamlined software ecosystem. For Macs, the typical support cycle has been around 7 years, but the architecture change has accelerated the end of life for Intel models. The 2019 Mac Pro, for example, is only 7 years old in 2026, which is within the typical range, but the discontinuation of Intel Mac sales in 2024 effectively shortened the window for new software updates.
Which Intel Macs Are Affected in Detail
Let’s take a closer look at the four models losing support. The 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) was a powerful laptop with up to an Intel Core i9 processor, AMD Radeon Pro graphics, and a 16-inch Retina display. It replaced the 15-inch MacBook Pro and was praised for its improved keyboard and thermal design. The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) was the final Intel-based 13-inch Pro model, offering higher-end configurations than the two-port version. The iMac (2020) was the last Intel iMac, coming with up to a 10th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, a 27-inch 5K display, and the option for a nano-texture glass finish. It remains a popular all-in-one, but its successor, the 24-inch M1 iMac, was released later that year. The Mac Pro (2019) was a powerhouse workstation with up to a 28-core Intel Xeon processor, support for professional expansion cards, and a modular design. It was the most expensive Intel Mac and the last to receive an Intel update. All four machines were highly capable at launch, but they are now being left behind as Apple moves forward.
It’s worth noting that Apple hasn’t release the official compatibility list for macOS 27 yet; that will come at WWDC. However, given Apple’s explicit statement that macOS Tahoe is the last version for Intel Macs, there is no ambiguity. These four models are the only Intel Macs that support macOS Tahoe, so they are the only ones that will lose support. All other Intel Macs are already incompatible with Tahoe, meaning they were dropped earlier.
What About Apple Silicon Macs and Future Updates
For users with Apple Silicon Macs—M1, M2, M3, M4, and beyond—there is good news: macOS 27 will almost certainly support all of them. M1 Macs, first released in 2020, are now six years old, but they are expected to receive updates for at least a couple more years. Apple’s Silicon chips have proven to be remarkably long-lasting, with the M1 still delivering competitive performance in 2026. However, as macOS evolves, some features may require newer chips, such as advanced ray tracing with M3 or later, or on-device AI capabilities that leverage the Neural Engine. Users of older M1 Macs may find that some new features are unavailable, but the core operating system will remain supported.
The end of Intel Mac support also means that all future macOS versions will be optimized exclusively for Apple Silicon. This should lead to better performance, lower power consumption, and tighter integration with hardware. Developers can now fully embrace the Apple Silicon architecture without maintaining Intel compatibility, potentially leading to faster and more capable applications. For users, the message is clear: if you haven’t already upgraded to an Apple Silicon Mac, now is the time to consider it. Apple’s trade-in program offers value for old Intel models, and the current lineup—including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro—covers every use case from casual browsing to professional video editing.
As WWDC approaches, more details about macOS 27’s features will emerge. But the most significant news is already out: the Intel era on the Mac is officially over. For those still clinging to their 2019 Mac Pro or 2020 iMac, the clock is ticking. Apple has drawn a clear line, and the future of the Mac is entirely in-house.
Source: 9to5Mac News