This fall, Apple is set to release macOS Tahoe (version 26), marking the end of major software updates for Intel-based Macs. During the WWDC Platforms State of the Union keynote, Matthew Firlik, Apple’s senior director of developer relations, confirmed that “macOS Tahoe will be the final release for Intel Macs.” This announcement closes a chapter on a transition that began in 2020 when Apple launched its first in-house M1 processor and culminated with the Apple Silicon Mac Pro in 2023. For Intel Mac users, there is some breathing room: eligible machines will continue receiving security patches for three more years, but no new features beyond Tahoe will arrive.

Apple’s partnership with Intel began in 2005 and powered Mac desktops and laptops for nearly two decades. However, in June 2020, Apple unveiled the M1 chip, marking a watershed moment: Apple Silicon promised significant gains in performance per watt, tighter hardware-software integration, and new capabilities in machine learning and power efficiency. Over successive iterations—from M1 to M2 and beyond—Apple Silicon machines have outpaced many Intel predecessors in benchmarks and battery life. By the time the Apple Silicon Mac Pro launched in 2023, the transition was effectively complete. Intel-based Macs lingered in the lineup mostly for continuity, but the writing was on the wall.

At WWDC 2025, during the virtual Platforms State of the Union, Apple confirmed that macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) will be the last major OS release to support Intel Macs. Matthew Firlik emphasized the shift: “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. If you’ve not done so already, now is a great time to help your users migrate to the Apple silicon versions of your apps.” This underlines Apple’s push: features leveraging Apple Intelligence and tight hardware integration will be exclusive to Apple Silicon moving forward.

Apple spokesperson Lauren Klug clarified the support timeline: Intel-based Macs compatible with macOS Tahoe will receive security updates for three years after release, but no further major feature updates. This ensures critical patches for vulnerabilities until around 2028, after which these machines will be effectively out of Apple’s update cycle.

Apple has published a compatibility list on its website. The Intel-based Macs eligible for macOS Tahoe include:

• MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• iMac (27-inch, 2020)
• Mac Pro (2019)

Other Macs supported on Apple Silicon (2020 and later) naturally receive Tahoe as well, but those have already migrated away from Intel. It’s worth noting that many earlier Intel Macs—anything older than 2019 models—are already excluded from Tahoe and thus have effectively reached end-of-major-updates status.

What Tahoe brings (and what Intel Macs will miss)

macOS Tahoe debuts Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language, refreshing window styling, translucency effects, and animations for a more modern feel. Spotlight sees significant upgrades, promising faster and more contextual search results. For the first time, macOS integrates iPhone’s Live Activities, letting users track ongoing events (like deliveries or workouts) directly on the Mac. A native Phone app is also introduced, enabling calls via iPhone continuity in a more seamless interface.

However, many of the deeper features—especially those leveraging dedicated neural engines or Apple Intelligence frameworks—will be limited to Apple Silicon machines. Developers building AI-driven functionalities, advanced image or video processing, or tight hardware-accelerated experiences will need to target the M-series architecture. While Intel Macs get the visual refresh and basic enhancements, anything under the hood that taps specialized silicon will remain off-limits.

For users on eligible Intel Macs, Tahoe delivers a last hurrah of new features and a polished interface, but it comes with awareness: after Tahoe, no further macOS versions with additional functionalities will arrive. Security updates until 2028 offer some cushion, but hardware limitations (e.g., slower performance on future software, lack of Apple Silicon–only features) will become more pronounced over time. Those planning long-term use might consider upgrading to an Apple Silicon Mac sooner rather than later, especially as software ecosystems evolve around the new architecture.

Secondhand buyers should be cautious: purchasing an Intel Mac today means knowing it will not receive updates beyond Tahoe and security patches only until ~2028. For occasional tasks or niche software that runs best on Intel, it could still suffice, but for new app development or cutting-edge workflows, Apple Silicon is the safer bet. Educational environments or enterprises holding onto Intel fleets must plan migration strategies over the next three years.

Apple’s plea through Firlik is clear: if your app is still Intel-only or relies on Rosetta emulation, now is the time to finalize Apple Silicon builds. While Rosetta 2 has eased the transition by translating Intel binaries on Apple Silicon, Apple is phasing it out in future macOS versions after Tahoe. Developers should compile universal binaries, optimize code paths for M-series chips, and leverage Apple’s unified frameworks (e.g., Metal, Core ML) for peak performance. Testing on real Apple Silicon hardware is essential to uncover architecture-specific issues. For any new features—especially those involving Live Activities, advanced Spotlight integration, or Phone app hooks—build and test on Apple Silicon to ensure compatibility and performance.

For indie developers and teams, this transition may involve updating CI pipelines to include Apple Silicon runners, ensuring dependencies support ARM architecture, and possibly archiving legacy Intel-only code. Apple’s developer documentation and sample code from WWDC sessions will guide best practices for macOS Tahoe and beyond, all tailored to Apple Silicon capabilities.

Dropping major Intel support underscores Apple’s commitment to vertical integration. By focusing solely on Apple Silicon, Apple can unlock features that span devices—from iPhone to Mac—in a unified ecosystem powered by custom chips. This vertical stack enhances security (via secure enclave), synergies in machine learning, and tighter energy efficiency. For consumers, it signals that the future Mac experience will be inseparable from Apple Silicon’s advancements. For competitors, it highlights the increasing difficulty of sustaining a general-purpose computing platform against such bespoke hardware-software integration.

In the broader PC market, Apple’s move may accelerate ARM-based development or push rivals to seek closer integration between hardware and software. Meanwhile, Intel’s decline in desktops might prompt the chipmaker to refocus on data centers or other segments. For users, it shapes expectations: Mac features will need newer hardware to shine fully, and resale values for Intel Macs may shift as the update horizon shortens.

Once macOS 27 arrives (expected fall 2026), only Apple Silicon machines will see new OS features. The developer and user communities will need to adapt: migration guides, data transfer workflows, and perhaps virtualization solutions for legacy Intel-only software will be in higher demand. Security-focused organizations may continue patching Intel Macs internally, but missing major OS improvements (e.g., future UI overhauls, AI tool integrations) means a gradual divergence between Intel and Apple Silicon user experiences.

For many, Tahoe will feel like a bittersweet milestone—a polished, final chapter for Intel Macs. But as Apple evolves its platforms with technologies like Apple Intelligence, spatial computing, and deeper cross-device integrations, those journeys will be paved exclusively on Apple Silicon.

macOS Tahoe’s status as the “final release for Intel Macs” encapsulates the end of one era and the full embrace of another. Intel Mac users get a last wave of design refreshes, Spotlight enhancements, Live Activities, and the Phone app, plus three years of security updates. Yet, Apple is clearly signaling that the future lies firmly with its M-series chips. Developers and users alike must plan migrations: updating apps to universal binaries, testing on Apple Silicon, and considering hardware upgrades. As the Mac landscape moves forward, Tahoe stands as both a farewell to Intel’s reign and a springboard for Apple Silicon’s next leaps. Whether you’re still on a 2019 MacBook Pro or eyeing the latest M-series machine, the message is unambiguous: embrace Apple Silicon or prepare for a final goodbye once Tahoe hits your Intel Mac this fall.