Apple unveiled macOS Golden Gate (version 27) at WWDC 2026, officially ending support for Intel Macs. The operating system requires Apple silicon, confirming Apple's transition away from Intel processors that began with the M1 chip in 2020. This completes the company's multi-year shift to its custom silicon architecture.

The new OS supports Apple silicon Macs from 2020 onward, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Four older models lost compatibility: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020 with four Thunderbolt ports), iMac (2020), and Mac Pro (2019). Apple typically provides security updates for previous OS versions even after discontinuation.

Owners of unsupported machines can continue receiving security patches for macOS Tahoe but won't access the latest features. The end of Intel support marks a significant milestone for Apple's ecosystem, which now runs exclusively on custom silicon. Users with older Macs face a hardware upgrade to experience new capabilities, continuing Apple's planned obsolescence cycle.