As Apple gears up for its highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), fans are excited about upcoming hardware updates. The event promises enhancements across various products, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBook Pro laptops. However, a notable downside accompanies these developments: Apple is preparing to end support for several older MacBook Pro models in the next iteration of macOS.
During the “Platforms State Of The Union” segment of WWDC, Apple revealed that while macOS 26 will bring new features for a select group of Intel-based Macs, the next version, macOS 27, will no longer support any Intel models. The four Intel-powered Macs still compatible with macOS 26 include the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019, the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, the 27-inch iMac from 2020, and the Mac Pro from 2019.
Although these devices will receive three more years of security support for necessary updates, macOS 26 will be the last to introduce significant enhancements such as an updated Spotlight, a new Glass UI, and the latest Continuity features.
Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, has provided insights into the forthcoming software launch, highlighting Apple’s emphasis on harmonizing the user interface across its platforms. Despite the impressive promise of advancements in artificial intelligence announced at last year’s WWDC, this year’s event will likely inspire skepticism regarding such claims. One exciting update is Apple’s plan to allow third-party developers access to its large language models, crucial for generative artificial intelligence.
However, older Intel processors may struggle with the demands of on-device large language model processing, leading many developers to abandon support for Intel architecture in favor of the newer ARM-based platform. This shift further diminishes the capabilities of classic Macs.
In advance of the event, Apple is revamping its operating system numbering, with macOS 26 adopting the name macOS Tahoe. While Apple traditionally provides multi-year support for its hardware, MacBook Pro owners are facing a shift in support dynamics. The latest updates signify a significant point of change in the Mac family, moving away from the x86-based Intel hardware to ARM-based Apple Silicon, which debuted with the M1 MacBook Pro in late 2020, dramatically enhancing performance and efficiency.
As it stands, support for the 2019 MacBook Pro will begin to fade, and only limited security updates will likely continue for older models. Meanwhile, the 2020 MacBook Air—the last Intel-powered version—will lose support altogether, leaving Apple Silicon models to thrive moving forward.
The situation is challenging for MacBook Pro users, as many third-party applications already show “unsupported” errors for those exclusively designed for Apple Silicon, growing increasingly common. Demanding software like Photoshop is already pushing Intel Macs to their limits, often leading to significant performance gaps compared to their Apple Silicon counterparts.
While Apple’s support policy typically offers around six years of updates, which is commendable, it may feel insufficient for loyal Apple consumers. The transition from Intel to ARM has presented a dilemma; Apple has gained a superior platform while being obligated to continue support for older models for a limited duration.
Thus, the classic MacBook Pro is approaching the twilight of its lifecycle, with a final year or two of support for professionals who still depend on these machines for their work. As ownership of these laptops shifts, Tim Cook has signaled that the beloved MacBook Pro’s era is coming to a close.