As part of the macOS 26 Tahoe announcements made during WWDC 2025, Apple slipped in that the upcoming release of macOS will be the last one to support Macs running Intel processors.
As part of the company’s Platforms State of the Union presentation, the company said:
We completed the transition to Apple silicon across our entire product lineup two years ago. So your apps can now depend on and build upon these features too. 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. And so, macOS Tahoe will be the final release for Intel Macs.
Apple commenced the rollout of Apple Silicon in 2020. Over the last five years it has transitioned every desktop and laptop computer it makes to the M-series systems on a chip. More than processors, Apple has put many components that were previously considered separate pieces of hardware onto a single silicon wafer.
That means Apple now has full control over the design and implementation of almost all its core hardware. Apple’s C1 modem chip, found in the iPhone 16e is another major component that Apple now designs. And supply chain guru Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to also have its own Wi-Fi chip in production as part of the iPhone 17 later this year.
For Apple to extract maximum energy efficiency and performance, it closely tunes its software to its hardware. So, it makes sense for Apple to drop support for Intel while it focuses on optimising its software for its own hardware.
Apple commenced the move from the PowerPC platform in 2005. Support for PowerPC processors ended with the 2009 release of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. So, the timeline for ending operating system support for Intel systems is following a similar timeline.
If you are still running a Mac with an Intel processor – and there’s research suggesting up to a quarter of Mac owners still rely on Intel-based systems – it may be time to start planning a move. While you’ll still get security updates and some patches for another couple of years, Intel-based systems will continue to move into Apple’s obsolete products list.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.