UMVA has learned that a major shift in macOS compatibility is on the horizon, with Apple's upcoming macOS 27 Golden Gate set to drop support for Intel-powered Macs.
This significant change means that only Apple silicon Macs, including the M1 and the A18 Pro, will be able to run the latest features of Golden Gate. While this may seem like a limitation, it's a clear indication of Apple's continued commitment to its Apple Silicon initiative.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the latest macOS version, macOS 26 Tahoe, is currently compatible with all M-series Macs and a small number of Intel-powered Macs from 2019. However, with Golden Gate on the horizon, Intel Macs will no longer be supported.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that macOS 27 Golden Gate will be compatible with a wide range of Apple silicon Macs, including the MacBook Air (13-inch, M1), MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2-port), and Mac mini (M1). A full list of compatible Macs includes:
MacBook Air (13-inch, M1) - Nov 2020 MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2-port) - Nov 2020 Mac mini (M1) - Nov 2020 iMac (24-inch, M1) - Apr 2021 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Pro / M1 Max) - Oct 2021 MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Pro / M1 Max) - Oct 2021 Mac Studio (M1 Max / M1 Ultra) - Mar 2022 MacBook Air (13.6-inch, M2) - Jun 2022 MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2) - Jun 2022 Mac mini (M2 / M2 Pro) - Jan 2023 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M2 Pro / M2 Max) - Jan 2023 MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Pro / M2 Max) - Jan 2023 Mac Pro (Tower, M2 Ultra) - Jun 2023 Mac Studio (M2 Max / M2 Ultra) - Jun 2023 MacBook Air (15.3-inch, M2) - Jun 2023 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max) - Oct 2023 MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Pro / M3 Max) - Oct 2023 iMac (24-inch, M3) - Oct 2023 MacBook Air (13-inch, M3) - Mar 2024 MacBook Air (15-inch, M3) - Mar 2024 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4 / M4 Pro / M4 Max) - Oct 2024 MacBook Pro (16-inch, M4 Pro / M4 Max) - Oct 2024 iMac (24-inch, M4) - Oct 2024 Mac mini (M4 / M4 Pro) - Oct 2024 MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) - Mar 2025 MacBook Air (15-inch, M4) - Mar 2025 Mac Studio (M4 Max / M3 Ultra) - Mar 2025 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) - Oct 2025 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro / M5 Max) - Mar 2026 MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Pro / M5 Max) - Mar 2026 MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Mar 2026 MacBook Air (15-inch, M5) - Mar 2026 MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) - Mar 2026
The transition away from Intel processors has significant implications for Mac users. If you're still using an Intel-based Mac, now is the time to start planning an upgrade to Apple silicon. Newer Apple silicon Macs offer significantly better performance, battery life, and access to features such as Apple Intelligence.
UMVA has gathered that macOS 26 Tahoe, the current version of macOS, will remain supported for at least another year after Golden Gate launches. However, users with Intel-powered Macs that can't run Tahoe should consider upgrading their devices to ensure they receive critical security updates.
