| don't have to maintain x86 version of macOS. Actually there isn’t an x86 version of the current macOS; it’s a single operating system that runs on multiple processor architectures. During the PowerPC to Intel transition back in the day, I could boot a PowerPC or Intel Mac from the same hard drive. The same is true today with Intel and ARM-based Macs. I have a 2017 Intel iMac running macOS Ventura but there’s plenty of ARM code on it. Here’s the output from running the file command on ls: /bin/ls: Mach-O universal binary with 2 architectures: [x86_64:Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64 [arm64e:Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64e]
/bin/ls (for architecture x86_64): Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64
/bin/ls (for architecture arm64e): Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64e
Apple is still selling the Mac Pro [1], which is Intel based. And there are plenty of Intel Macs for sale on Apple’s refurb store [2].I suspect these machines will be supported for the foreseeable future. BTW, my 2017 iMac is running its 7th major operating system: - macOS 10.12 Sierra - macOS 10.13 High Sierra - macOS 10.14 Mojave - macOS 10.15 Catalina - macOS 11 Big Sur - macOS 13 Monterey - macOS 14 Ventura I think Apple will support Intel Macs for a good while. They’re not going to get all of the same features as ARM-based Macs (due to these machines having Apple’s custom silicon the Intel Macs don’t have) but they will get the same core features for the foreseeable future. [1]: https://www.apple.com/mac-pro/ [2]: https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/2019 |
I wouldn't take that as any kind of promise it's gonna be maintained by them for an acceptable amount of time.
Up until last month when they announced the new Apple Watch SE, their entry-level watch was the Series 3 which you could still purchase even though it didn't get updated to watchOS 9. Sometimes they just continue to offer a product because some people might still buy it.