macOS 27 Drops Intel Macs, Requires Apple Silicon for New Features

Apple's latest operating system, macOS 27 "Golden Gate," set to launch this fall, will officially end support for Mac computers powered by Intel processors. This significant shift, announced by the company, mandates that users must have a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip, such as the M1, M2, or M3 series, to run the new version. Intel-based Macs currently running macOS 26 "Tahoe" will continue to receive security and Safari patches for approximately two more years following the release of macOS 27.

The transition away from Intel marks the culmination of a multi-year process for Apple, which began its migration to custom silicon in 2020. Each subsequent macOS release has increasingly scaled back support for older Intel hardware. While third-party tools like the OpenCore Legacy Patcher offered some Mac owners a way to extend the life of their unsupported Intel machines, these workarounds are not expected to function with macOS 27 "Golden Gate." Apple is removing substantial portions of legacy Intel code from the operating system, making it functionally impossible to run on outdated Intel architectures.

New AI Features Will Also Require Upgraded Hardware

Beyond ending Intel support, macOS 27 "Golden Gate" introduces Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features. However, access to the most advanced on-device models will be restricted to newer Apple Silicon Macs. Specifically, users will need an M3 chip or a more recent model equipped with at least 12GB of RAM to leverage these enhanced capabilities. The basic version of Apple Intelligence will remain accessible on all Apple Silicon Macs, including M1 models and those with 8GB of RAM, such as the MacBook Neo.

The initial developer beta of macOS 27 is available starting today, June 2026. A public beta version is slated for release in July, with the final public launch expected in the fall of 2026. While macOS 27 will still support Intel Mac applications through the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer, Apple has indicated plans to phase out this technology over time, primarily to support older games that rely on Intel code.

This move signifies Apple's full commitment to its in-house silicon strategy, which has yielded significant improvements in performance, power efficiency, and the integration of advanced features like machine learning and AI. The company's departure from Intel processors for its Mac lineup mirrors its earlier transition away from PowerPC chips with the release of Mac OS X Snow Leopard over a decade ago.