macOS 26 Rumored to Drop Support for These Five Macs

[SBlue1]

Final year for intel support I reckon. I wonder how long before M1 gets cut off?

Oh wow, I just realized my MacBook Air M1 is five years old! I used my last two Macs for almost 10 years each so I surely hope they support the M1 for another 4 to 5 years.

 

[bzgnyc2]

Oh wow, I just realized my MacBook Air M1 is five years old! I used my last two Macs for almost 10 years each so I surely hope they support the M1 for another 4 to 5 years.

Maybe but Apple's recent track record has been dropping a model for no obvious technical reasons from the latest OS after 4-8 years, with 5 being typical for lower-end (e.g. Air) models.

My guess is that the remaining Intel gets dropped next year (i.e. fall 2026) and M1s get dropped the year after. Then there will be 3 years of security updates after that.

 

[Tonye456]

I don't think they'll be so quick to drop the M1 Macbook Air. Apple officially sold them all the way up until March 2024

 

[VivienM]

I don't think they'll be so quick to drop the M1 Macbook Air. Apple officially sold them all the way up until March 2024

While I agree they probably won't drop the M1 machines anytime soon, Apple officially selling a model is... perhaps the worst indicator of OS lifecycle. Look at what happened to the trash can Mac Pro, and perhaps the last Intel Mac Mini...

 

[gank41]

Oh wow, I just realized my MacBook Air M1 is five years old! I used my last two Macs for almost 10 years each so I surely hope they support the M1 for another 4 to 5 years.

Yeah! I’ve got an M1 MBP from November 2020 and I’m not seeing any reason to upgrade. Yet.

 

[SnowPenguin]

I sincerely hope the Mini 2018 will get yet another year of updates. I know it already got 7, but it's powerful enough, and the Ram is uogradable.

 

[ResPublica]

I sincerely hope the Mini 2018 will get yet another year of updates. I know it already got 7, but it's powerful enough, and the Ram is uogradable.

Apple ought to support it, because they sold this machine until January 2023. But that doesn't mean that they will.

 

[gank41]

Apple ought to support it, because they sold this machine until January 2023. But that doesn't mean that they will.

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't buy my 2018 Intel Mac mini until after the M1 mini was announced.. A few months after, actually. I'm not expecting much, but I'd be surprised if they passed it over for this one.

 

[SnowPenguin]

Apple ought to support it, because they sold this machine until January 2023. But that doesn't mean that they will.

That's what I am hoping for, but as you know, support can be pretty arbitrary

 

[dmelgar]

Usually get 5-6 years of updates, so probably start seeing certain M1 Mac’s excluded 2026. Fortunately Apple devices get security updates for many years after.

Apple should base it on the final year of production, not the first year. Otherwise anyone who buys after launch will be at a disadvantage.
The 2020 M1 air is still currently being produced and sold via Walmart. It would be a very bad look for Apple to sell a brand new machine and drop support a year or two later.