Apple Just Dropped Intel Mac Support in macOS 27 — Here Are Your Options
Apple Just Dropped Intel Mac Buffalo? WWDC 2026 came with one big piece of news for a lot of Western New Yorkers: macOS 27 “Golden Gate” won’t install on Intel Macs. If that’s your machine, here’s exactly what your choices are — no pressure, no upsell.
First — is your Mac actually affected?
macOS 27 only runs on Apple Silicon Macs (the M1 chip from late 2020 and anything newer). Every Intel-based Mac is now capped at macOS 26.
To check: click the Apple menu (top-left) and choose About This Mac. Look at the “Chip” or “Processor” line. If it mentions Intel, your Mac won’t get Golden Gate. If it says M1, M2, M3, or M4, you’re fine — you can stop reading and go enjoy the update.
Don’t panic. Your Intel Mac didn’t suddenly stop working. macOS 26 will keep getting security updates for a while yet. This is about planning your next move, not an emergency.
Your three realistic options
1. Keep your Intel Mac for now
If it does what you need, there’s no rush. Stay on macOS 26, keep it backed up, and run security updates as they come. We can give it a tune-up — SSD, more RAM, fresh battery — to stretch its life another couple of years.
2. Move to an Apple Silicon Mac
The jump from Intel to an M-series Mac is dramatic — faster, cooler, far better battery. As an Apple Authorized Service Provider, we can recommend the right model and migrate all your files, apps, and settings so it feels exactly like home.
3. Consider a Windows PC
Honestly? For some people a good Windows PC is the smarter buy — especially for certain business software or a tighter budget. We’re a full Windows shop too, so we’ll give you a straight answer and set up whichever platform fits you best.
Why ask the shop that does both?
Here’s what makes MacSolutions Plus different in Western New York: we’re the only local shop that’s Apple Authorized AND a full Windows shop. That means when you ask us “should I stick with Mac or switch to PC?”, you get an honest recommendation — not a sales pitch for the only thing we happen to sell.
We’ll look at what you actually do — email and web, photo editing, QuickBooks, a specific industry app — and tell you which platform gets you there for the best value. Then we handle the whole transition: data migration, software setup, and making sure nothing gets left behind.
Stuck on what to do with your Intel Mac? Let’s talk it through.
Bring it in or give us a call. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth keeping, upgrading, or replacing — and whether your next machine should be a Mac or a PC. Serving Buffalo, Amherst, Williamsville, Clarence, and all of Erie County since 2001.