Three years ago, Apple first introduced and promptly released the first MacBook powered by M1 processors. Everyone knows what happened next.
The announcement shook up not only the foundations of Apple laptop owners, but also the gadget market as a whole. After such a breakthrough, only one question remains: how many years do Intel-powered Macs have left before they are forced into history?
I believe that the coming year 2024 and the next version of macOS will be the last for all Intel-based MacBooks. I predicted approximately this back in 2021, but then few people believed it.
For those who are still tormenting their MacBook with a clock chip, there is good news. Well, or not really – they’re just not the worst, the good ones.
Why support for Intel-powered MacBooks will end in 2025
You don’t have to look far for evidence. Just look at the last three macOS update cycles.
Every year a new version of macOS is released, which consistently “cuts off” entire generations of Apple computers. Here’s my prediction for stopping support for Macs with Intel processors, made in an old article:
▪ 2022, macOS 13: 2015 and 2016 models.
▪ 2023, macOS 14: 2017 and 2018 models.
▪ 2024, macOS 15: 2019 and 2020 models.
Let’s compare with that which devices are masterpieces in fact:
▪ 2022, macOS 13: 2015 and 2016 models.
▪ 2023, macOS 14: 2017 models and 2018 iMac.
Accordingly, in 2024, support for all 2018 Macs will be removed from macOS 15. In terms of the number of Intel devices, only the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019, as well as the iMac 2020, were found.
Now let’s try to predict Supported devices running macOS 15which will be released in 2024:
▪ iMac: 2020 (Intel) and new
▪ MacBook Air: 2020 (M1) and new.
▪ MacBook Pro: 2019 (Intel) and new.
▪ Mac Mini: 2020 (M1) and new
I will separately mention the most “professional” models. Mac Pro suffered from illness in 2019, otherwise it will be a very shameful fifth time in Apple’s history. It is unlikely that this part will happen to the iMac Pro 2017. Other Macs have no chance at all. Like the above, there is no chance of remaining relevant in 2025.
There is another view, a more radical one – if Apple manages to introduce a new worldwide version of Siri by the summer and add to macOS 15 some of the truly modern neural network functions deeply embedded in the system. In this case, the company will have an argument to remove support altogether everyone Intel Macs are a year ahead of schedule.
Apple has already begun to increase marketing pressure on owners of Intel Macs. The last two presentations of new Macs (15-inch MacBook Air and iMac on M3) abounded in us with the speedy transition of owners of old laptops and computers to models with new chips.
It’s a hint.
What will happen to Boot Camp and where will Windows be installed on Mac?
Boot Camp is a full-fledged installation of Windows on Mac computers as a second power-on system. Its end will come, if not in six months, then in a couple of years at most. The feature itself will most likely be removed in the first version of macOS without support for Intel processors.
Microsoft and Apple have shown no productive interest in enabling owners of modern Macs to install a native version of Windows 11 with support for ARM processors. All the talk and talk about it was the same, and the talk remained just hints.
Moreover, the company promised to provide the ability to virtualize copies of Windows 11 through software, be it Parallels Desktop or VMware. This is the first time Microsoft has mentioned the software as an alternative to Boot Camp, meaning it is the only true way to access Windows on its computers.
Microsoft itself is generally moving towards cloud-based Windows via subscription. As part of this strategy, the company is simply not interested in using resources to find solutions for local installation of Windows on Mac. On the contrary, the owner of a Mac is great, grahnçves Client for future cloud operation. In the meantime, let them warm up and “virtualize” for their health.
Along with Intel support, Hackintosh will disappear
Hackintosh is the installation of macOS on a regular PC, including laptops from other manufacturers. In recent years it has greatly diminished as a phenomenon. Not the least role in this is played by the development path of macOS and healthcare systems from supporting classic PC architecture.
The latest versions of macOS do not have a driver (so-called “kexts”) for modern PC hardware. New Intel processors are not mentioned at all. The decline in interest with the Hackintosh scene has gone away, and I, who achieved it, released or at least looked for a solution to these problems. Without enthusiasm there are no proposals.
There are no drivers for several Nvidia video cards, and new AMD Radeon video cards cannot be used correctly. macOS and PC hardware are getting more and more used up every year.
The point in this story will come when support for Intel-based Macs completely disappears from macOS. This prospect completes the bleak picture of the future of the already thinning community of hackintoshers.
So what’s the good news for Intel Mac owners?
Apple needs to prepare additional incentives for convinced or retired owners of Intel MacBooks who do not have the opportunity to update to macOS 15. It is advisable to indicate the most suitable approach for “moving” new new Mac model. This is what she does.
Just in 2024, the new generation MacBook Air will be released. All more or less verified sources speak about this.
An M3-powered MacBook Air, and perhaps a particularly stripped-down M2 or M3 MacBook, will provide those moving from Intel with a jump in performance and battery life.
More than twice! Why not motivation? Here’s the good news: you’ll simply have something to switch to without hesitation. Alas, there will be no other good news on this topic.
If you still have a MacBook with an Intel chip, and it still has the latest version of macOS, it’s time to prepare to switch to the light side. The difference between them and the new Mac with Apple chips is colossal and instantly noticeable. There will be many positive impressions from the upgrade.
Of course, you can continue using the latest generation Macs on Intel, especially iMacs. Nobody forbids not updating to the new macOS and using familiar software for a few more years. But The era of Intel Macs is about to end, whether you like it or not. It’s time to prepare the cache.
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
