Just curious as to what people here think about the compatibility of future MacOS releases and the Intel chip. I’m considering a good deal on a late 2019 MacBook Pro with an Intel chip. It’s compatible with Sonoma and about half the price of a 2021 MBP with Apple Silicon.
Is there any sense of how long the older machine will remain compatible with system upgrades?
I know, this is crystal ball stuff and if we’re purely speculating, then feel free to tell me to consult tea leaves.
Based on the cadence thus far, probably late 2024, with late 2025 the very latest.
I agree with @Bryce_Wray’s assessment.
As an aside, Windows 10 reaches end of support in October 2025. Not that Apple’s schedule is influenced by Microsoft’s schedule, but that might be a convenient time for Apple to end Intel support quietly. “The industry is moving on, etc. etc.”
Yeah, I like to get at least 5-7 years out of my computers. But my mini won’t be turning 5 for another couple months. And apple desktops/laptops are not cheap. The MBP 14” M3 with 30+GB Ram and 1 TB for $2200 looks compelling.
If past history means anything, I think Apple will drop support from macOS about two years after they stop shipping the last Intel model. The last Intel Macs (according to MacTracker) are:
So that last Intel Mac (the Mac Pro) stopped shipping this past June. Or if you don’t think they’ll count that model, the next-to-last (2018 mini) stopped shipping this past January.
I expect Apple will include Intel support in macOS 15 (expected release, fall 2024, 1.5 years after the end of the Intel Mac Pro). I expect that macOS 16 (expected fall 2025, 2.5 years after the end of the Intel Mac Pro) will be Apple Silicon only.
Apple typically provides support and updates to macOS for about two years after release. So we can expect support for macOS 15 to end in fall 2026. And we can probably expect key apps (web browsers, office suites, etc.) to drop their support for the OS 1-2 years after that, with some holdouts lasting much longer.
So I think a recent-model Intel Mac probably has a useful life until 2027/2028, when important app updates are likely to stop. And people willing to be selective about what apps they expose to the Internet may be able to get several more years beyond that.
I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Assuming it has enough storage and RAM for your usage, I think you should expect Apple software updates for another two years (until fall 2026, maybe a little more if there’s a really critical security bug), most third-party software updates for about four years (until some time in 2028), and remaining useful for a few years after that.
You may need to replace the battery once or twice between now and its practical end-of-life, but that’s not too bad. According to iFixit an aftermarket battery costs about $120 and it is moderate difficulty (1-3 hours work). Or if you go to Apple, they will charge $250, which sounds perfectly reasonable for a genuine battery and the fact that they will install it for you.
But of course, everything here is speculation and could prove to be wrong.
Thank you very much! That’s incredibly helpful. If this machine will last me until 2028, I’d be a happy guy.
Also keep in mind you’ll be able to run Linux on it considerably beyond that. They make good servers too.
True. I’m experimenting with Ubuntu on one of my older laptops