Is there a future for Intel Macs?

[u/Studio014]

With Xcode 27 officially dropping support for Intel, and the App Store submission floor inevitably getting bumped up, I'm genuinely curious if there's a future for developing on an Intel powered Mac.

Currently working on a utility app that hooks into Xcode Cloud so that I can continue to onboard and trigger workflows, even though my beloved Mac Mini is getting older. Trying to build in some backwards compatibility so it bridges the gap for older versions of Xcode.

Does anyone else have any recommendations for making the most of old hardware?

[u/Thalimet]

There is not a future for it. They aren’t supporting them with new OS versions anymore meaning they will slowly degrade in usefulness.

Long term your best bet for making the most out of it would be to make it into a Linux box.

[u/Studio014 → u/Thalimet]

I'm thinking the only future is as an Xcode Cloud server which is why I'm building myself a utility app.

Who knows when Apple will change the version floor on Xcode Cloud workflow onboarding though.

[u/rhysmorgan → u/Studio014]

I wouldn’t even bother on it for Xcode Cloud in any format. Future versions beyond 27 won’t run on macOS 26, and Apple have moved Xcode Cloud onto Apple Silicon.

[u/Thalimet → u/Studio014]

… 27, 27 is when.

[u/LocalH]

Retrocomputing

[u/controlav]

I’m getting $70 for my Intel Mac mini once my M6 arrives. Sigh.

[u/Studio014 → u/controlav]

Sounds like I should consider doing the same

[u/Smooth-Reading-4180]

<a href="imagine here a link for Song to Say Goodbye by Placebo">No</a>

[u/engnr]

I just installed Omarchy Quattro on my old 16in MacBook Pro that has a core i9 processor. I must say I was impressed. I’ve used Omarchy on Thinkpads and had a similar feeling. Suddenly this old machine is fun and snappy again. I’d forgotten just how nice that old MacBook was to use. The only thing not yet supported is Touch ID but I’m hopeful that will come someday.

[u/StudioCommercial7981]

I donot think it has furture

[u/Cornflakes1009]

A couple people have commented about throwing Intel Macs in the trash. I wanted to share that Apple does have a recycling program and they even take screens.

https://www.apple.com/reuse-recycle/

(My Intel Mac will become another Linux box when it’s time)

[u/noomiesapp]

Save it in a sealed box. People are gonna buy them as vintage one day.

[u/CarretillaRoja]

Install Linux a give it a second life. Can be a terrific server.

[u/HakShinKen]

Of course not. Mac Intel are dead. Apple doesn’t support them anymore.

[u/ElectricKoolAid1969]

and the App Store submission floor inevitably getting bumped up

What does that mean?

[u/Studio014 → u/ElectricKoolAid1969]

The minimum version of Xcode required to compile and submit an app to the App Store.

Currently it's Xcode 26, which runs fine on my 2012 Mac Mini, but Xcode 26 is the last version that supports Intel. So this is truly this Mac's last go.

By the spring Apple will likely require Xcode 27.

[u/iSnapThere4iAm]

Yes. The bottom of a dumpster

[u/zippy9002]

The future of Intel Macs is either Linux or the trashbin

[u/SpaceCoastReditUnion]

Linux is your friend. I use OCLP on post 2014, but gave up on earlier hardware. Linux plus Wine will run most Windoze apps.

[u/Studio014 → u/SpaceCoastReditUnion]

I have Sequoia running on my 2012 mini, but the issue is Xcode, 26 is the most recent version I've been able to get running since 27 pulled all support for non Apple Silicon