Apple today unveiled macOS Golden Gate, the next major version of its Mac operating system, during its WWDC 2026 keynote.
As expected, the update confirms the end of Intel Mac support. Apple said last year that macOS Tahoe would be the last version to run on pre-Apple silicon machines, and macOS 27 makes it official – you’ll need an Apple silicon Mac to install it.
Here are the Macs compatible with macOS Golden Gate:
- MacBook Neo (2026)
- MacBook Air with Apple Silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon (2020 and later)
- iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later)
- Mac mini with Apple Silicon (2020 and later)
- Mac Studio with Apple Silicon (2022 and later)
- Mac Pro with Apple Silicon (2023 and later)
Four models running macOS Tahoe were not selected this year. They include the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports), iMac (2020), and Mac Pro (2019).
The owners of these machines are not completely unlucky, however. Apple typically continues to release security patches for the previous version of macOS well after it has been replaced, so anyone sticking with Tahoe will continue to receive the necessary patches. But for the latest features, the only way to go is a newer Mac.
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