Older Macs don't have much of an update future

[braumeister]

If you have an older Mac running an Intel CPU, it might be wise to start looking at an upgrade to a newer one.

According to what Apple said recently, the current OS (MacOS 26, Tahoe) is the last one that will run on machines with Intel-based CPU chips.
MacOS 27, which will be coming out later this year, will only run on Apple silicon, meaning M1 and newer CPU chips, which were first introduced in 2020.

Older Macs will still get some bugfix and security updates for a while, but to take advantage of the newer features, you'll need a newer machine.

We don't know yet exactly which machines will be compatible with 27, but those Intel-based machines won't.

 

[target2019]

Apple is following in the footsteps of MS.

Windows 11 abandons many functioning platforms. Buy a new machine when the legacy equipment still delivers all that you need?

One answer is to wipe the OS and install a Linux distro.

 

[Al18]

Officially, most Intel Macs can't upgrade to the latest Mac OS unless they were made in 2019 or newer. Unofficially, many Macs from 2008 and newer can be upgraded to MacOS Sequoia - see macOS Sequoia | OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Macs with M series CPU's are much, much faster than Intel Macs. Going from a 2 or 4 core Intel CPU to a 10 core M series CPU is almost life changing. If you've got $750, I highly recommend the M4 mini with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD. If you prefer laptops, the 15 inch M5 MacBook Air is a great choice starting at $1299.

 

[frank05]

Plan on keeping my 27” intel mac for the next several years. Only software that would drive me to Apple silicon is tax prep. When that happens will pick up a Refurbished Neo just for the tax soy.

 

[braumeister]

I highly recommend the M4 mini with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD.

Completely agree. I'm using a Mac Mini with an M4 Pro, 24 GB memory, and 1 TB storage, with a 32" LG monitor, and I am blown away almost daily by how powerful it is.

 

[GenXguy]

Windows 11 abandons many functioning platforms. Buy a new machine when the legacy equipment still delivers all that you need?

With a simple workaround you can run Windows 11 on first generation Core i-series computers from 2008. Looks like Apple is going to cut off much newer hardware based on the 2020 comment in OP.

 

[sengsational]

If you have an older Mac running an Intel CPU, it might be wise to start looking at an upgrade to a newer one.

I am shocked, SHOCKED, that Apple is forcing people to buy a new computer!

OCLP kept my dad's old machine running for a long time, rather than sending it to the dump. But I finally kicked Apple to the curb. And I kicked Microsoft to the curb (never got past Windows 7). I'm now on Ubuntu and although slightly annoyed by having to learn new keystrokes, I've been able to do everything except H&R Block TaxCut, which I was able to run in WinBoat.

Oh, no, now I'm one of those posters who gets on an Apple thread and then talks about not using Apple.

 

[braumeister]

I am shocked, SHOCKED, that Apple is forcing people to buy a new computer!

Forcing?
I know you're kidding, but just like everything else, it's perfectly possible to keep using the old stuff.
I have a friend who is something of a Luddite, and he was complaining recently that his old beater with the crank-up windows is not doing all that well and he is unable to find anything decent built recently that doesn't have power windows (which he hates).

Fortunately, his wife is more broadminded, and has a modern car. The funny part is that when they go anywhere together in her car (more and more frequent lately), he won't let her use a GPS, but insists on sitting in the passenger seat with his paper maps. She just rolls her eyes and lets him enjoy his version of technology.

Nobody is forced to upgrade to a newer machine, but most of us want the newer features so we do. It's a personal decision.

 

[tizod]

Yeah, I dont get it. The 1-2K invested and used for many years is still very useable...but why? MAC's upgrade so easy, the store will even port all your stuff for you if you dont want the hassle (cant do that with WIN!). Win vs. Mac is no compare due to all the complexities of Win. My "newest" old Mac is connected to my router for time machine backups and other storage stuff, easy to do and the 9 year old Intel laptop sits there closed and working every day. I do fire up some of the very old units sometimes, but I am so shocked when I see how slow and cumbersome it is vs. my M1 Air. So why complain so much? $200-300/year then mothballed is a big issue?? Most of my MAC's used for over 7-10 years with no issues. Out of 20 MAC's (all laptops for many years now) in the family, only one lasted maybe 6 years do to my screen OCD and the delamination issue in one version of laptop.

 

[Jerry1]

I agree that the companies try to make the hardware obsolete too soon, but I’ve kept most of my machines, Mac and Win, about 7-10 years. That’s plenty. There is usually a noticeable improvement after that amount of time. So, while I certainly could extend the life of the machine, I prefer not to do so.

 

[Chuckanut]

My 2019 Mac still runs Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop fine. Though there are times when I have to pause a few seconds to let the Mac catch up with the sliders I just manipulated.

 

[jim584672]

There is a project to port Linux to run on Apple silicon. They are making progress, but Apple does not share its proprietary magic with anyone else. Asahi Linux

 

[cbo111]

I recently replaced my 2015 iMac with a brand new iMac. The original was working fine but I figure 10+ years is a good run for one of these machines and didn't want to deal with a potential data-destroying failure. So now DW uses the old iMac to back up her pics and videos. Regarding software updates, Apple seems to do a lot of those, seemingly weekly. I believe primarily for constant security patches to stay ahead of the dark forces.

 

[QG67PK00]

Older Macs with Intel CPUs are perfect for running Linux. I am currently using as my daily laptop a 2015 MacBook Pro that is running a flavor of Ubuntu Linux.

 

[Just_Steve]

I replaced my 2010 MacBook in 2023 with the MacBook I'm using now. 13 year run, not to shabby. No windows machine ever lasted half that long.

 

[folivier]

My 27" iMac is 2016 running Monterey. Still working well but some websites like Facebook are pretty dodgy. But I'm still using it for daily tasks.
Guess someday I'll have to replace it. But wonder if I can just get a Mac mini and still use my 27" monitor from the iMac?

 

[Chuckanut]

I have no problem running a so called obsolete Mac as long as it does the job and is not a security risk. Apple has been known in the past to issue security updates to obsolete equipment that no longer shines with new bells and whistle. My 2019 Mac runs my photo software very well though a bit slow. No need to replace it yet. Maybe in 2030? I don’t know.

 

[Al18]

Apple doesn't maintain a list of unsupported OS versions. A few years ago they said they support the last 3 versions of the OS. But since then a law was passed in the EU essentially saying computer hardware and software must be supported for 7 years. That would indicate Catalina OSX 15.x is the oldest supported OS, which will not run older 32-bit apps. There was a security update in February, 2026 indicating it's still supported.

If you do photo or video editing, web browsing, the M series Macs are really monsters. They startup from an SSD in about 2 seconds. You can start Safari and automatically open 25 web pages in about 2 seconds. Try than on an Intel Mac.

 

[homestead]

My son just updated two of his old mac's to run Sequoia using OCLP patcher.
I updated my daughter's old mac in the same way to run Mojave so she could run older adobe SW.
All three of mac's had intel cpu's.

 

[Dash man]

Timely thread. This morning MacOS Tahoe’s latest release nearly turned my MacBook Pro (2019) into a brick. After a half dozen restarts and a lot of waiting, it’s finally working. I hadn’t backed up my taxes yet (did it today). I ordered a new MacBook Pro this morning. I’m not shutting down my current one until the new one arrives and everything is transferred.

 

[G-Money]

Computers are not intended to be long-term purchases. IMO, if you've had one for 7 years, it's probably time to consider renewing your hardware for this reason, it may no longer be supported by the OS for security/vulnerability updates.

I'm on a MacBook M1 Pro in its 4th year. It still has more computing power than I need, so this one I'll continue to run for another year or two. I run dual 27" 4k monitors and push it with video and it doesn't even get warm or run the fan. Battery life is still amazing.

 

[braumeister]

Computers are not intended to be long-term purchases. IMO, if you've had one for 7 years, it's probably time to consider renewing your hardware for this reason, it may no longer be supported by the OS for security/vulnerability updates.

Very true. AFAIK, Apple has always said that seven years is a reasonable lifespan for a computer. That's why they generally don't make hardware repairs to them after that time, and usually don't issue software or security updates either.

 

[explanade]

I still primarily use a 2017 Intel iMac. I’d been planning to upgrade the past 3 years but I wanted another 27 inch screen and was hoping for new iMac with 27-inch or greater screen.

Then a couple of years ago Adobe supported HDR and my photos on a 14-inch MacBook Pro looked stunning in HDR.

So I’ve been waiting on a 27-inch display with at least 5k resolution and HDR. The MacBook Pros have 1600 nits in HDR mode, far greater output than OLED TVs.

Well a month ago, Apple just released the Studio Display XDR. It starts at $3300 and goes up for screen type and mounting options. It’s getting rave reviews. I balked at spending $1600 and up for the old Studio Display, which doesn’t have the bright HDR output.

But it’s going to be a BTD moment for me when the M5 Mac Studios come out later this year. Expectation was they’d be released in June but now because of the RAM and SSD situation, it may be delayed to fall.

Another reason to hate AI.

 

[Alpineforesteraz]

Hi everyone... First time caller, long time listener...

Saw this post and felt compelled to chime in...

I have a 2014 Mac Mini (1.4GHZ intel processor, 4GB Ram, 500 HDD - yes, very vintage!). The Mac Mini was been sitting in the spare bedroom for the last 7+ years mostly collecting dust. It never was a highly used computer. A new addition to the family (a 15 year old FIV+ stray cat we adopted - quarantined to the extra bedroom) started me tinkering with the old machine. After several hours spent trying to get into the machine - Apple ID's, unknown passwords, etc - I finally got in. The machine could barely bring up a website - and if it did you would need to wait 45 - 60 seconds for the spinning beach ball...

After some googling and AI searches, I learned about LINUX, specifically Linux Mint Cinnamon. An open sourced (free) software package, that can replace the (now unsupported) Apple OS (or Windows for non-Mac PC's).

After going through the process of changing over MAC OS to LINUX (thanks to YouTube) I was pleasantly surprised at the improvement! Much better performance - but the PC would still lag occasionally and "bog down" if I opened more than a few websites at a time.

After doing some additional searching - I learned that a NVME SSD DRIVE can be added and that folks were saying that that it will drastically change the machine for the better.

So I took my chances and bought a $13 adapter along with an $85 512GB NVME SSD drive and WOW, its like a brand new computer! Super fast! Took me about 10 minutes to install the drive (and a few hours time spent moving the Linux OS to the new SSD drive - some trial and error involved).

If you have an OLDER Mac product, I highly recommend switching over to LINUX.

Linux, along with the new SSD drive, gave the old MAC MINI a new lease on life.

 

[Al18]

So you switched to Linux and now Safari, Music, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Garage Band, Photos are all missing. You’re still stuck with a 2 core CPU - no thanks.