Still using an old Intel Mac? Then we have bad news, because the laptops will soon no longer receive support for new macOS updates.
Apple says goodbye to Intel
In 2020, Apple presented the first Macs running on Apple Silicon, Apple’s own chip. Since then, Apple has incorporated the new proprietary processor in all new models of the Mac(book). By producing the chip entirely in-house, Apple Silicon fits perfectly with the software of the Mac. Naturally, the new chips are faster and more efficient, helping the Mac’s battery last longer.
Also read: New Mac gets M3 chip (but you still have to wait a while)
Thanks to their own processor, Apple is no longer dependent on other manufacturers for the production process. Intel previously supplied the chips for the iMac and MacBook, but that has come to an end with the introduction of Apple Silicon. It now appears that the old Intel Macs are no longer getting new macOS versions sooner than expected. And that’s not all: there will be no more security updates.
Intel Macs will no longer receive macOS updates
The last MacBook Pro with an Intel processor was released in 2020. Do you still have a Mac that runs on an old chip from Intel? Then you may need to slowly start looking at an upgrade. Research has shown that Apple provides the Mac with new macOS versions for less and less time. At first this was more than 7 years, now it is stuck at about 6.5 years.
When the Mac no longer supports the latest macOS version, you will still receive new security updates for two years. After that, that too will stop, leaving your Mac potentially vulnerable to malicious software. If you have an old Intel Mac, you’ll probably get support for the macOS updates for up to three more years. After that, no new features will come to your Mac.
Bad news for users with an old Intel Mac, but good news for Apple. At the moment, macOS must be programmed for both Intel processors and Apple Silicon. When the old Intel Macs no longer receive new macOS versions, this is of course no longer necessary. This can make macOS a lot more efficient.
These Macs are dropping this year
Apple introduced macOS Sonoma this year, but this update is no longer coming to a number of Macs with an Intel processor. This year, the MacBook Pro 2018, MacBook Air 2018 and the Mac mini 2018 will be dropped. These devices will no longer receive new functions, but will still receive security updates for the time being. After two years, these updates will also expire.
Also read: ‘macOS coming to the iPad in 2023’ (forget iPadOS)
Do you have an old Intel Mac, but do you want the new features of macOS? Then it is wise to buy a new Mac. The most advanced MacBook at the moment is the MacBook Pro 2023. Do you want a cheaper MacBook, but with a larger screen? Then the 15-inch MacBook Air 2023 is the right choice! View all prices in our price comparison: