To what extent can 'Intel Macs' equipped with Intel CPUs receive OS update support?
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In 2005, Apple announced that it would switch the CPUs installed in Macs from PowerPC to Intel's x86 CPUs, and released Macs equipped with Intel CPUs, commonly known as 'Intel Macs.' However, in 2020, Apple announced that it would switch to its own Apple silicon, and Intel Macs will no longer be developed or sold. IT news site Ars Technica has investigated the support period for these Intel Macs.
MacBook Air gets hosed, other models hold steady in macOS 15 as Intel support fades | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/06/the-case-for-and-against-macos-15-sequoia-being-the-final-release-for-intel-macs/
According to a survey by Ars Technica, Macs have received macOS update support for an average of 6.6 years, followed by an additional two years of security updates. Since new Mac models are released every 1-2 years, the average time between the end of sales and the end of update support is about 5.5 years.
The models with the longest update support were the 2007 MacBook Pro, 2007 iMac, and 2020 Mac Pro, which received about nine years of OS update support, and 11 years if security updates were included.
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Looking specifically at Intel Macs, the average OS update support is about seven years, with security updates for an additional two years, but all Intel Macs released since 2016 fell short of these averages.
However, Ars Technica says that compared to the transition from PowerPC to Intel processors, it still has good support.
During the keynote address at Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC24, held in June 2024, macOS Sequoia, version 15 of macOS, was announced.
'macOS Sequoia' announced, advanced collaboration features such as mirroring iPhone screen on Mac enable a magical experience - GIGAZINE
According to Apple's official page , the following devices support macOS Sequoia: 2018 or later MacBook Pros and 2019 or later Macs, and Mac minis that are 2018 or later models, including Intel-based models.
However, one of the biggest new features added to macOS Sequoia is '
Meanwhile, Ars Technica points out that the 2018 MacBook Air, the best-selling Intel Mac, will no longer be supported by macOS Sequoia. The 2018 and 2019 MacBook Airs are said to have the shortest update support period of any Mac released since 2008.
by HS You
Ars Technica states, 'The fate of Intel Macs remains uncertain for users after the transition to Apple silicon, and it is unclear when Apple plans to completely remove Intel Macs from macOS support. Statistically, it is possible that some Intel Macs will receive one more update, but it is also possible that Sequoia will be the last update.'
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• Discord | 'Do you have a Mac with an Intel CPU? How long do you think you can keep using it?' | GIGAZINE
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