macOS 27 is the first version of macOS that will not run on a single Intel Mac. Apple confirmed the cutoff alongside the first developer beta on June 8, 2026. Golden Gate is an Apple-silicon-only release built around a rebuilt Siri AI, a refined Liquid Glass design, and deeper Apple Intelligence across the system. Four older models lose support outright, and even some Apple silicon Macs get the operating system but not the headline AI features.
This guide answers the three questions people actually search for. Can your Mac run macOS 27, what is actually new, and when does it ship. You will also find the exact chip and memory requirements for the new Siri, plus what to do if your Mac is left behind but you still want modern AI tools.
The Key Takeaways
- macOS 27 is called Golden Gate and reaches its public beta in July 2026, with the final release expected in September 2026.
- It is the first Apple-silicon-only macOS; every Intel Mac is droppeda Rosetta 2 support ends.
- The OS runs on any M1 Mac or newer, but the new Siri AI needs an M3 chip or later with at least 12GB of unified memory.
- Four models lose support: MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019), MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020), iMac (2020)a Mac Pro (2019).
- Locked-out and older Macs can still run today’s top models through a third-party app like Fello AI, which works on macOS 12 and later, including Intel Macs.
Is Your Mac Compatible With macOS 27?
The short answer for Intel owners is no. macOS 27 Golden Gate is the first version of macOS to require Apple silicon, so any Mac with an Intel processor is excluded. Intel machines keep receiving Apple security updates for a couple more years, but they will not get this upgrade or any future major macOS version.
Every Mac with an M1 chip or newer is supported. That covers the MacBook Air (2020 and later), MacBook Pro (2020 and later), iMac (2021 and later), Mac mini (2020 and later), Mac Studio (2022 and later), Mac Pro (2023), and the new MacBook Neo (2026). If your Mac shipped with an Apple chip, it runs Golden Gate.
The four machines that lose support are the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019), the MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, the iMac (2020), and the Mac Pro (2019). These were the last Intel holdouts still receiving updates, and Golden Gate closes that chapter, as confirmed in MacRumors’ compatibility list. You can check what you have under the Apple menu, in About This Mac.
To see which camp you are in, look at the Chip line in that same panel. A label that starts with Apple M means you are clear to upgrade, while anything naming an Intel Core processor is the end of the road for new macOS versions. Apple drew the line at Apple silicon because Golden Gate’s AI features depend on the Neural Engine and unified memory that Intel Macs never shipped with.
Which Macs Get the New Siri AI
Running the operating system is one bar; running its smartest features is a higher one. The redesigned Siri AI requires an M3 chip or later with a minimum of 12GB of unified memory, so an M1 or M2 Mac can install Golden Gate yet miss the marquee assistant. This split is the part most coverage glosses over, and it matters before you get excited about the demos.
| Mac generation | Example models | Runs macOS 27? | Gets full Siri AI? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | MacBook Pro 2019, iMac 2020 | Ne | Ne | Security updates only, no upgrade |
| M1 | MacBook Air M1, Mac mini M1 | Yes | Ne | Runs the OS, misses new Siri AI |
| M2 | MacBook Air M2, Mac Studio 2022 | Yes | Ne | Runs the OS, misses new Siri AI |
| M3 (12GB+) | MacBook Pro M3, iMac M3 | Yes | Yes | Meets the full AI requirement |
| M4 and newer | MacBook Neo 2026, M4 Macs | Yes | Yes | Best experience, all features |
What Is New in macOS 27 Golden Gate
Golden Gate is less about a visual overhaul and more about a smarter, more connected Mac. The standout additions are a conversational Siri AI, expanded Apple Intelligence inside default apps, Visual Intelligence for your screen, and a cleaned-up Liquid Glass look that answers last year’s complaints. Here is what each one does.
The New Siri AI
The headline feature is a fundamentally rebuilt Siri, now a conversational assistant that can answer questions, pull in personal context from your messages and notes, fetch real-time web answers, and take actions across apps. It lives inside Spotlight, so typing a query and asking Siri become the same motion. Siri AI ships as a separate beta later in 2026, starting in English before expanding.
In practice that means you can ask Siri to find a file someone mentioned in a recent email, summarise a long thread, or pull a fact from the web without opening a browser. Because it reads personal context on the device, it handles follow-up questions the way a real conversation flows, rather than treating each request as a blank slate. The company is positioning it directly against ChatGPT a Gemini, though the rollout stays gradual and English-first through the end of the year.
Apple Intelligence Across Apps
Apple Intelligence now reaches deeper into Safari, Messages, Mail, Photosa Shortcuts. Safari can group related tabs, watch pages for changes like price drops, and even build simple extensions from a text description. The aim is automation that happens in place, without bouncing between apps or menus.
Visual Intelligence
Visual Intelligence lets you ask questions about whatever is on your screen, from an image to a document to a block of text. You trigger it with a dedicated shortcut and get answers about what you are looking at. It is the same idea Apple brought to iPhone, now native on the Mac. No copy, paste, or app-switching required.
Liquid Glass, Refined
The Liquid Glass design returns with corrections rather than reinvention. Apple improved readability, raised contrast between interface elements, and added a transparency control so you can dial the effect from nearly clear to fully tinted. Sidebars now run edge to edge with more consistent rounded corners.
When Is macOS 27 Coming Out?
macOS 27 Golden Gate reached its first developer beta on June 8, 2026. A public beta follows in July 2026, and the final release is expected in September 2026, in line with Apple’s usual fall schedule, according to Macworld’s macOS 27 guide. The new Siri AI arrives on its own timeline as a separate beta later in the year.
If you want to try it early, wait for the public beta in July and install it on a secondary Mac rather than your main machine. Betas are stable enough to explore but not built for critical work. The stable release in September is the safe moment for most people to upgrade.
Should You Upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate?
Whether to upgrade comes down to your chip and your appetite for new software. If you own an M3 Mac or newer with 12GB of memory, Golden Gate is the first release that delivers every feature Apple is marketing, so it is an easy call once the stable version ships. On an M1 or M2 Mac you still get the refreshed design, the app-level Apple Intelligence, and Visual Intelligence, just not the rebuilt Siri.
The safest path for most people is to wait for the September 2026 stable release rather than the July beta. Betas can break apps you rely on, drain battery, and ship with bugs Apple fixes later, so they belong on a spare machine. If your work depends on specific software, confirm your key apps are updated for Golden Gate before you commit.
Intel owners do not have a decision to make here, since the upgrade is not offered at all. Those Macs keep working and keep getting Apple security patches for a while, but the feature gap with Apple silicon only widens from this point. That is the moment to weigh buying new hardware against bridging the gap with software, which is exactly what the next section covers.
What to Do if Your Mac Is Left Behind
Losing macOS upgrades does not mean losing modern AI. The new Siri and on-device Apple Intelligence are tied to recent Apple silicon, but the most capable AI models run in the cloud and reach your Mac through an app, not the operating system. That distinction is what keeps an older or Intel Mac useful.
The practical upshot is that an Intel MacBook Pro from 2019 can still run frontier AI models released in 2026, as long as those models live in the cloud. What you give up by skipping Golden Gate is the deep system integration, like Siri reaching into your Mail or Visual Intelligence reading your screen. What you keep is access to the same large language models behind the headlines, delivered through your browser or a dedicated app instead of the operating system.
A multi-model app like Fello AI runs on macOS 12 and later, including Intel Macs, and gives you Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Groka DeepSeek in one place for $9.99 per month. You get current frontier models for writing, coding, and research without buying a new Mac just to keep up. For a closer look at the hardware side of the split, see our breakdown of which devices support Apple Intelligence.
If you do have a supported Mac, the new features are worth weighing against the privacy trade-offs. Our take on whether Apple Intelligence is worth it walks through that decision, and the full Apple Intelligence feature guide covers everything the system can do.
Závěr
macOS 27 Golden Gate draws a clean line in the sand. It is Apple silicon only, with a smarter Siri and a tidier Liquid Glass, landing in September 2026. If you own an M3 Mac or newer, you get the full experience including the rebuilt assistant. If you are on an older or Intel Mac, the upgrade passes you by, but a multi-model app keeps you on today’s best AI without new hardware.
For more on this year’s announcements, read our WWDC 2026 recap and our guide to iOS 27, the iPhone side of the same release.
FAQ
Is my Mac compatible with macOS 27?
Only if it has Apple silicon. macOS 27 runs on any M1 Mac or newer, including the 2026 MacBook Neo. Every Intel Mac is dropped and cannot install it.
What is macOS 27 called?
macOS 27 is named Golden Gate, after the San Francisco bridge, continuing Apple’s California-landmark naming theme.
When is macOS 27 released?
The public beta arrives in July 2026 and the final version is expected in September 2026. The developer beta launched on June 8, 2026.
Does macOS 27 still support Rosetta 2?
No. With Intel support gone, Rosetta 2 translation also ends in macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Can I use AI on an Intel Mac that cannot run macOS 27?
Yes. Apple’s on-device features need recent chips, but cloud-based apps like Fello AI run on macOS 12 and later, including Intel Macs, giving you Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek.
Do I need a new Mac to use the new Siri AI?
You need an M3 chip or later with at least 12GB of unified memory. M1 and M2 Macs can install macOS 27 but will not get the rebuilt assistant, so new hardware is only required if that Siri is your priority.
Accordion item7
Apple typically ships security updates for older macOS versions for roughly two to three years after a Mac stops getting major upgrades. Your Intel Mac stays safe to use in that window, but it will not receive macOS 27 or any of its AI features.
