Apple still has Intel Mac's in their line-up so I would hope that my 2020 MacBook Pro will still have MacOS updates in 2 years but I have a bad feeling next year will be the end for the 2020 MacBook Pro. What do you say?

Probably through macOS 15 (late 2024), for models like the Intel 16" and Mac Pro. 5 years of OS support seems realistic.

Your intel-based Mac has "as long" as you want it to have (and it keeps running).

I have a 2018 Mini still running Mojave (and it won't be "upgraded" -- I WANT the old OS on it).

I have a 2012 Mini still running Sierra -- still does ok.

"Keeping updated" means NOTHING to me.

This is the third processor transition Apple performed. To look at the prior two transitions:

TO POWER PC:

Apple's lineup was muddled back in the mid 90's. The PowerPC was released in March, 1994, replacing the then 68x series processors. The Power Macintosh 6100 was released in March, 1994. However, Apple released a Performa (580CD) in May, 1995. The last operating system that could be run on any 68x series computers was Mac OS 8.1, released in January 1998, and required a 68040 processor. The successor to Mac OS 8.1; Mac OS 8.5, was released in October 1998.

The earliest machine that included a 68040 processor was a Performa 475, released in 1993. Total support time: 5 years - MAX.

To Intel:

Thankfully, Steve Jobs simplified the Macintosh line before the transition. The first MacPro with an intel processor was released in 2006. The Powermac G5 was released in 2005. The last MacOS that could run on the PowerMac G5 was Mac OS X 10.5, Leopard. The most recent patch was August 5, 2009. However, A PowerMac G4 ("Quicksilver") released in 2001, can support Leopard.

Total support time: 8 Years - MAX.

My opinion: I expect future MacOS updates for intel to be focused on removing bugs, and not adding new features. Unless there are features you need, and you need the latest security, I think you have another 8+ years left on your machine before it needs to be replaced.

JustAnExpat said:

This is the third processor transition Apple performed. To look at the prior two transitions:

TO POWER PC:

Apple's lineup was muddled back in the mid 90's. The PowerPC was released in March, 1994, replacing the then 68x series processors. The Power Macintosh 6100 was released in March, 1994. However, Apple released a Performa (580CD) in May, 1995. The last operating system that could be run on any 68x series computers was Mac OS 8.1, released in January 1998, and required a 68040 processor. The successor to Mac OS 8.1; Mac OS 8.5, was released in October 1998.

The earliest machine that included a 68040 processor was a Performa 475, released in 1993. Total support time: 5 years - MAX.

To Intel:

Thankfully, Steve Jobs simplified the Macintosh line before the transition. The first MacPro with an intel processor was released in 2006. The Powermac G5 was released in 2005. The last MacOS that could run on the PowerMac G5 was Mac OS X 10.5, Leopard. The most recent patch was August 5, 2009. However, A PowerMac G4 ("Quicksilver") released in 2001, can support Leopard.

Total support time: 8 Years - MAX.

My opinion: I expect future MacOS updates for intel to be focused on removing bugs, and not adding new features. Unless there are features you need, and you need the latest security, I think you have another 8+ years left on your machine before it needs to be replaced.

Click to expand...

You forget.

68K to PPC

Apple II to Mac

jwolf6589 said:

You forget.

68K to PPC

Apple II to Mac

The 68K to PPC was included in my post.

The Apple I/ Apple II/ Apple III were completely different type of machines then the Macintosh line. Pointing out the Apple I/II/III to Mac shows that you are familiar with those system. I don't think your question is in good faith now, and I feel that I wasted my time helping you. Good luck.

JustAnExpat said:

The 68K to PPC was included in my post.

The Apple I/ Apple II/ Apple III were completely different type of machines then the Macintosh line. Pointing out the Apple I/II/III to Mac shows that you are familiar with those system. I don't think your question is in good faith now, and I feel that I wasted my time helping you. Good luck.

Excuse me?? How long do I have for my 2020 Mac? I hope till 2025.

jwolf6589 said:

but I have a bad feeling next year will be the end for the 2020 MacBook Pro

2023? Nah, that's way too soon

maflynn said:

2023? Nah, that's way too soon

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View attachment 2100341

2027?

If you install Windows on them, you'll be alright until about 2030.
As for macOS, it's really anyone's guess but i'd wage about around 2025 at least.
Even if the OS updates cease, security updates will still be provided for a while.
Keep in mind that Catalina security support will be dropped only now with the release of Ventura.

jwolf6589 said:

Apple still has Intel Mac's in their line-up so I would hope that my 2020 MacBook Pro will still have MacOS updates in 2 years but I have a bad feeling next year will be the end for the 2020 MacBook Pro. What do you say?

You will likely get important security and maintenance updates for many years. But the first version of macOS that only runs on Apple Silicon is definitely not far away. Probably macOS 15.

PauloSera said:

You will likely get important security and maintenance updates for many years. But the first version of macOS that only runs on Apple Silicon is definitely not far away. Probably macOS 15.

2024?

jwolf6589 said:

2024?

No one can say, and my advise is not worry about the future may or may not bring.

If your mac is able to run the aps you need and the performance is good, then don't worry, plus its not required to upgrade to a new OS, you can still use your Mac even if its not on the latest version of macOS

Its only 2022, use your mac, enjoy it, and don't worry what year the machines will be considered obsolete

jwolf6589 said:

2024?

I realize it stinks to think your 2020 investment may not get extraordinary OS support.

But unless funds are very limited, I'm surprised you wouldn't get tempted by Apple Silicon-based Macs well before your Intel Mac stops getting the most recent OS. Apple Silicon is a game changer.

Your exiting computer will keep doing what it does until the hardware starts to break down.

If it’s Internet-connected, you have several more years of consumer-level security updates ahead. After those updates expire, you could presumably put it behind a carefully-considered firewall / proxy server and it should keep doing its thing just fine.

But!

Several years from now, people will be doing new and exciting things with computers that today’s computers will either struggle to manage or flat-out can’t do.

So it really comes down to what you need / want / expect out of the computer.

If, for example, you’re doing some very specific things, like using it to drive certain hardware or run certain processes, and that’s not going to change, you’re just fine until the computer breaks.

But if, instead, you want to “keep up with the Joneses,” you should plan on upgrading every few years or so, at least every several years.

b&

Fishrrman said:

Your intel-based Mac has "as long" as you want it to have (and it keeps running).

I have a 2018 Mini still running Mojave (and it won't be "upgraded" -- I WANT the old OS on it).

I have a 2012 Mini still running Sierra -- still does ok.

"Keeping updated" means NOTHING to me.

You get it.

I don’t let or worry about Mac OS updates determining me on when I buy a new Apple product.

I keep as long as possible. I just upgraded from an iMac late 2013 to a MacBook Pro 14. My iMac had OS support stopped with Catalina, only reason I upgraded was because the iMac had a few annoying issues, apple trackpad/keyboard loosing connection, general slowness occasionally and some weird errors. Just felt it was time.

This is the situation. You either keep your Intel Mac as long as you can to get the most return on your investment or sell it as soon as possible because the longer you keep it the less it will be worth. It will drop a lot in value once Apple decides no longer to release Intel version of MacOS.

When will Apple stop supporting Intel is anyone's guess but Apple has a financial incentive to get people to buy new Macs and not keep older ones.

I think it comes down to how happy you are with your current Mac. If you get decent performance, decent app support and battery life and don't see that changing any time soon you may just want to keep your Mac as long as possible. Then when M3 or M5 or whatever comes out buy then. You will have gotten the most out of your current laptop and when you upgrade it should be a pretty huge change.

If you find that you are having performance issues, your battery life is trash, want to use M1/mobile apps on your laptop then it might be a good idea to sell now before the value drops a lot. There are a lot of sales on M1 MBP and people who still want Intel based Mac's so you could get the highest value for your current Mac selling it used and get the biggest discount on a new M1 Mac at the same time.

Personally I would sell now and get a discounted M1 Mac if I were in your shoes. It would offer me some huge performance and battery upgrades, increase my support window and cost as little as it ever will to do so.

Some people don't care about specs and super fast performance and like to keep what they have for a long time. If you are one of those people then just keep your Mac until it dies and enjoy it. As a lot of people have said here it will work for a long time after Apple gives major updates and I have known a few people who kept their Macs for a very long time and had no problems at all.

So do whatever you feel makes the most sense for you.

BeatCrazy said:

I realize it stinks to think your 2020 investment may not get extraordinary OS support.

But unless funds are very limited, I'm surprised you wouldn't get tempted by Apple Silicon-based Macs well before your Intel Mac stops getting the most recent OS. Apple Silicon is a game changer.

If I could afford it I would get the touch bar MBP M2.

Fishrrman said:

Your intel-based Mac has "as long" as you want it to have (and it keeps running).

I have a 2018 Mini still running Mojave (and it won't be "upgraded" -- I WANT the old OS on it).

I have a 2012 Mini still running Sierra -- still does ok.

"Keeping updated" means NOTHING to me.

Yeah, this is really the only way to keep an older Mac running long-term. The OS updates just get more and more demanding over time, and if you keep installing them eventually you have a machine that's "gotten slow" -- even though when it was bought it was probably snappy and fast.

jwolf6589 said:

2024?

Your guess is as good as anyone's. Nobody here knows for sure -- and even if you did it's quite unclear how that woudl help you. When the machine stops being usable for what you need, buy a new one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Fishrrman said:

Your intel-based Mac has "as long" as you want it to have (and it keeps running).

I have a 2018 Mini still running Mojave (and it won't be "upgraded" -- I WANT the old OS on it).

I have a 2012 Mini still running Sierra -- still does ok.

"Keeping updated" means NOTHING to me.

same, i still got mojave on my old macs, mojave was the last Os that allows legacy 32bit programs to run on.

jwolf6589 said:

If I could afford it I would get the touch bar MBP M2.

I think by the time your Intel Mac is no longer getting the most recent macOS, the M2 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar will be extremely affordable.

Fishrrman said:

Your intel-based Mac has "as long" as you want it to have (and it keeps running).

I have a 2018 Mini still running Mojave (and it won't be "upgraded" -- I WANT the old OS on it).

I have a 2012 Mini still running Sierra -- still does ok.

"Keeping updated" means NOTHING to me.

Well you're kinda right, and kinda not. If you don't connect to the internet or use any 3rd party applications, then sure, you can run a 20 year OS. But if you plan on doing any e-commerce or use any modern website, you're going to run into issues, eventually. Some people make a hobby out of finding hacky ways around this. But it's not for the faint of heart.

BeatCrazy said:

I think by the time your Intel Mac is no longer getting the most recent macOS, the M2 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar will be extremely affordable.

By that time it will be the M4 MacBook Pro.

jwolf6589 said:

By that time it will be the M4 MacBook Pro.

Well sure But you implied your budget was limited, so my point was that you'll have lots of options! In 2025, the M2 MBP will probably have another 5 years of macOS updates, and certainly be priced <$500.