The Countdown Begins: How Long Will Apple Support M1 Macs?

With macOS 27 on the horizon, the M1 era enters its final chapter.

Aug 22, 2025

Apple has officially confirmed that macOS 26 “Tahoe” will be the final macOS version to fully support Intel-based Macs. While this was expected, attention now shifts to the M1 generation of Apple Silicon. With macOS 27 on the horizon, many wonder: how much longer will M1 Macs remain at the center of Apple’s software ecosystem?

Apple’s Transition Timeline

Fall 2025 → macOS 26 “Tahoe” releases, last major Intel-compatible version.
Fall 2026 → macOS 27 debuts, likely to begin phasing out M1 Macs from new features.
Beyond 2026 → Security updates for M1 Macs may continue, but innovation will shift to newer hardware.

This mirrors Apple’s historic pace of hardware–software transitions: support often continues for several years, but flagship features move on sooner.

What Stays the Same

M1 Macs won’t lose support overnight. Apple is expected to:

Maintain security updates and patches for multiple future releases.
Ensure baseline compatibility for stability across existing devices.

This means owners can rely on their M1 Macs for day-to-day use well into the late 2020s.

What Will Change

The challenge lies not in support, but in feature parity:

New macOS tools, especially those tied to AI and system performance, may become exclusive to later-generation Apple Silicon.
Apple already stopped selling Macs with 8 GB RAM, hinting at a rising baseline of 16 GB for future features.
By macOS 27, expect some flagship updates to skip the M1 entirely.

Implications for M1 Users

For current M1 Mac owners:

Short-term → No need to panic; updates and security will remain.
Mid-term → Feature gaps will emerge, creating pressure to upgrade.
Long-term → Just as Intel Macs are now, M1 Macs will shift into “legacy” territory.

Conclusion

macOS 27 won’t immediately end M1 support, but it likely marks the start of a gradual transition. As Apple continues to push hardware boundaries, the future of macOS innovation belongs to newer Apple Silicon chips.

For users, the message is clear: M1 Macs are still dependable today—but the countdown toward obsolescence has begun.

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