Apple Announces macOS Golden Gate, Ditches Intel Macs Forever

Apple has unveiled its next major macOS release, “Golden Gate,” marking a pivotal shift in its operating system strategy by explicitly dropping support for Intel-based Macs. The update, reported by AppleInsider, represents the first time Apple will no longer provide compatibility for devices using Intel processors, effectively sealing the fate of older hardware in favor of its in-house Apple Silicon chips. The announcement, made ahead of a public release expected in late 2026, underscores the company’s continued transition away from Intel processors, a move that began with the 2020 MacBook Pro lineup and has since accelerated with each subsequent macOS iteration.

The decision to phase out Intel support aligns with Apple’s broader push toward self-designed ARM-based chips, which have consistently outperformed Intel counterparts in benchmarks while offering improved energy efficiency. While macOS Golden Gate’s visual and functional changes may not match the transformative scale of previous updates like macOS Big Sur or the Liquid Glass redesign of