macOS 26 Tahoe Ends the Line for Intel Macs – Here’s What Devices Still Get the Update

Apple is continuing its transition toward a unified experience with macOS 26 Tahoe, but the shift comes at a cost — especially for users of Intel-powered Macs. While some Intel Macs are still eligible for the update, Tahoe will be the final macOS version they receive, marking the end of the road for x86-based Macs.

Intel Macs on Borrowed Time

When macOS Sequoia launched last year, Apple dropped support for older devices like the 2018 MacBook Air. The writing was on the wall, and now with macOS Tahoe, the cutoff is even clearer: only select Intel Macs get the update, and no Intel Mac will receive macOS 27 in 2026.

Quick Reference: Supported Mac Models Comparison

Mac Model macOS Sequoia macOS 26 Tahoe

iMac 2019 2020 (Intel)

iMac Pro 2017 -

Mac Studio 2022 2022 (Apple)

Mac mini 2018 2020 (Apple)

Mac Pro 2019 2019   (Intel)

MacBook Air 2020 (Intel) 2020 (Apple)

MacBook Pro 2018 2020 (Apple)<br>2019 (16", Intel)<br>2020 (13", 4 TB ports, Intel)

What This Means for Mac Owners

Intel MacBook Airs (2020): Not supported. Only Apple M1 Airs get Tahoe.

Mac mini (2018): Dropped. Only Apple Silicon minis from 2020 onward qualify.

iMac Pro (2017): No longer supported and hasn’t been refreshed with Apple Silicon.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020): Supported – these include 10th gen Intel Core i5, i7, and i9.

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) and MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports): Still supported thanks to 10th-gen Intel chips.

Older MacBook Pros and earlier Intel models: No longer eligible for updates.

While macOS 26 will be the last major update for Intel Macs, Apple promises three more years of security updates, allowing users some time to prepare for the switch to Apple Silicon.

Goodbye x86, Hello ARM

Apple’s long-term goal is clear — a full transition to ARM-based Apple Silicon. While Rosetta 2 (Apple’s x86-to-ARM translation layer) will remain in macOS 27, it's expected to be retained only for legacy software and older games. Apple is encouraging developers to fully transition their apps to native ARM architecture.