As previously mentioned in the previous article, we now expect the next version of macOS to be called “macOS 26” based on the year. Who knows? We may see Apple continuing with the California-based naming scheme that started with OS X Mavericks (2013), but internally, it’s going to be referred as version 26. So which Mac models will be supported for this coming release, and which Mac models will be dropped?
According to AppleInsider, Apple expects to drop even more of the final Intel-based Macs; this will include:
- MacBook Pro (2018)
- MacBook Air (2020, Intel-based)
- iMac (2019)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac mini (2018)
These models were the earliest to support the current release of macOS Sequoia, and with no mention of these in development builds, we can safely assume that macOS 26 will drop support for these models.
As Apple continues to move away from Intel by dropping support for more Intel-based Macs and focusing more on new features that will be fully optimized for Apple Silicon, these are the models that are expected be supported by macOS 26:
- MacBook Pro (2019 and later)
- MacBook Air (M1 and later)
- iMac (2020 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019 and later)
- Mac Studio (all models)
- Mac mini (M1 and later)
This will mean all Macs with Apple Silicon as well as select Intel-based Macs with the T2 Security chip should be able to run macOS 26.
macOS 26’s first development beta is expected to exceed 17GB in size, and that extra 2GB (compared to the initial beta of Sequoia) will likely contribute to the new additional features, including the all-new drastic redesign based on visionOS. The last major UI design we saw for macOS was with Big Sur, and that was the same time when Apple moved from 10.x to whole numbers starting with 11 for its versioning scheme. As mentioned before, the change in versioning scheme will likely reflect the major revamp in UI design that will be consistent across all of Apple’s platforms.
We expect macOS 26 to be announced on June 9 at WWDC 2025 with a developer beta releasing after the opening keynote, followed by a public beta a few weeks after, and a public release sometime in the fall of 2025.
The 2020 Intel MacBook Air, my last computer before going to Apple Silicon, has the T2 Security Chip. Matters not what Macs can run OS 26 – I have an M4 – but your information is incorrect.
What do you mean my information is incorrect? The MacBook Air was updated twice in 2020 – March for the last Intel version and November for the M1 version.
Jed, your comment just seems a bit vague to me, but the article clearly states the following:
“This will mean all Macs with Apple Silicon as well as select Intel-based Macs with the T2 Security chip should be able to run macOS 26.”
Note the term “select“, which refers to some Intel Macs with that chip, not all of them. Hence, the 2020 MB Air won’t make it to the list despite having the T2 chip.
Plus, the list mentioned above is not official yet, it’s just for speculation, so we will know the final list of all the Macs that will be supported then.