macOS Tahoe 26 is a significant release from Apple, marking the final version for Intel-powered Macs. However, not all Intel-based Macs will receive the update, as the company has shifted focus to Apple Silicon processors. This change is part of Apple’s broader initiative to create a unified user interface across all devices, though it leaves many older Mac users behind. While macOS Sequoia, which debuted last year, dropped support for the 2018 MacBook Air, the 2020 models with 10th generation Intel processors were still supported. 
Moving forward, only Apple Silicon Macs will receive updates.
Here’s a breakdown of which Intel-powered Macs will receive the macOS Tahoe 26 update. This list includes some of the latest models, but it’s clear that Apple is leaving behind older Intel-powered machines:
| macOS Version | Supported Models |
|---|---|
| macOS Sequoia | 2019 iMac, 2017 iMac Pro, 2022 Mac Studio, 2020 Mac mini, 2019 Mac Pro, 2020 MacBook Air, 2020 MacBook Pro (13-inch, 4 Thunderbolt ports), 2019 MacBook Pro (16-inch) |
| macOS Tahoe 26 | 2020 iMac (10th gen Intel), 2020 MacBook Air (Intel CPUs), 2020 MacBook Pro (Intel), 2019 MacBook Pro (16-inch), 2020 MacBook Pro (13-inch, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) |
Notably, Intel-powered Mac minis and older MacBook Airs will be excluded from receiving Tahoe, while the 2020 MacBook Pro (16-inch) and select 2020 iMac models will get the update. However, the iMac Pro (which never received an Apple Silicon refresh) won’t get the update either. While Intel Macs won’t get major OS updates after Tahoe 26, they will continue to receive security patches for the next three years, offering some time for users to make the transition.
This marks the end of Apple’s transition away from Intel to Apple Silicon processors. The next macOS version, 27, will still support Rosetta 2, a translation layer for running Intel-based apps on Apple Silicon Macs. However, Apple is pushing developers to transition to ARM architecture for better performance and compatibility in the future.