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Imagine waking up one day to find your trusted technological companion, the one that has served you through thick and thin, is about to be thrown to the wolves. That’s the reality for Intel-based Mac users as Apple announces that macOS 26 Tahoe will be the final major release to support those aging machines. Shocking? Perhaps not. After all, when you look at the pitiful state of those Intel chips, it’s a wonder they lasted this long. But hey, who wouldn’t want to cling to a sinking ship, right?
Apple’s big reveal: farewell to Intel
During the recent virtual Platform State of the Union at WWDC25, Apple’s Matthew Firlik made it abundantly clear: “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.” Translation? It’s time to kick Intel to the curb. Sure, Intel-based Macs will still get a measly three years of security updates after Tahoe rolls out, but let’s be real—those updates are just band-aids on a festering wound.
So which Intel Macs are still hanging on? We’ve got the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019, the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020, the 27-inch iMac from 2020, and the 2019 Mac Pro. Lucky them, right? They will get to enjoy some of Tahoe’s enhancements, like the new liquid glass design and improvements to Spotlight search. But let’s not kid ourselves; this is more of a consolation prize than anything else. The days of these machines being cutting-edge are long gone, and they’ll soon be collecting dust in the annals of tech history.
Rosetta 2: the last lifeboat for Intel apps
Let’s talk about Rosetta 2, the tool that allows Apple Silicon computers to run Intel applications. Sure, it will be available through macOS 27, but it’s starting to feel like a last-ditch effort to keep the sinking ship afloat. Firlik, in a moment of desperation, urged developers to help users transition to native Apple Silicon versions of their apps. But how many developers are going to bother when they see the writing on the wall?
Some of Rosetta’s components might still be necessary for older games that haven’t seen an update since the last Ice Age. But let’s face it, how many of those games aren’t just glorified nostalgia trips at this point? Apple has made it clear: their future lies in a vertically integrated stack, and they want nothing to do with the antiquated Intel architecture. So, if you’re still clinging to your Intel Mac like it’s a life raft, you might want to reconsider.
The inevitable decline of Intel
It’s utterly predictable that Apple would phase out Intel. The last of those chips emerged in 2020; even the server-grade Xeons in the 2019 Mac Pro are losing steam. Apple rolled out the M1 in late 2020, and suddenly, the world started to realize what real performance looked like. Battery life skyrocketed, and the days of sluggish execution were mercifully behind us. But of course, some people were living in denial, thinking their old Intel machines could keep up.
Let’s not forget the Hackintosh projects that thrived on Intel chips. After macOS 26 drops, it’s likely those projects will fade into obscurity. Apple isn’t just saying goodbye to Intel; they’re erasing the very notion that you can run macOS on anything other than their own hardware. This is a power move, plain and simple. You can either buy into the Apple ecosystem or get left behind in the technological dust.
Apple’s engineering ambitions
This entire scenario reeks of Apple’s desire to streamline operations. By cutting ties with Intel, they can allocate resources more effectively towards developing applications for their own Silicon. Is it a shame for those who love their Intel Macs? Maybe. But don’t expect Apple to shed any tears. They’re busy forging ahead into a future that promises to be faster, more efficient, and—dare I say—better.
As we bid adieu to Intel support, one can only ponder: what’s next for a company that thrives on innovation? Will they finally get rid of that pesky Intel baggage, or will they trip over their own ambitions? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the tech landscape is changing, and if you’re not ready to adapt, you might just find yourself left in the dust.