Apple Releases macOS 27 Golden Gate, Ending OS Upgrades for Intel Macs
The update marks the first version of macOS restricted entirely to Apple silicon, requiring an M-series processor to install.
Apple has released macOS 27 Golden Gate, marking the company's first operating system update that drops support for Intel-based computers entirely. The transition restricts the new release to machines powered by Apple silicon processors.
Under the new compatibility requirements, all Mac laptops released in 2021 or later can run Golden Gate. For 2020 releases, only the M1-equipped configurations of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are supported. Any machine running an Intel processor remains capped at macOS 26 Tahoe. Users can check hardware configuration by navigating to "About This Mac" under the Apple menu; systems displaying an M-series chip are eligible, while those listing an Intel CPU cannot install the update.
As detailed by Engadget , Golden Gate introduces an AI-focused Siri overhaul, updated customization options for the Liquid Glass interface, AI photo editing tools, automated tab organization in Safari, and broad performance improvements. The update also requires considerably more local storage space than macOS 26 Tahoe.
The exclusion of Intel hardware completes an architectural migration that Apple began in 2020. Alongside internal product roadmap goals, previous commentary from former Intel engineers suggested recurring quality assurance issues with Intel's Skylake architecture helped prompt Apple's move toward in-house silicon.
For users with Intel-based hardware, Apple's typical software maintenance schedule suggests macOS 26 Tahoe will receive security patches for an additional two years, keeping legacy systems covered through September 2028.
Sources
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