Apple reveals which Macs will run macOS Catalina
Users looking to benefit from Apple's forthcoming macOS Catalina innovations will need to have a desktop Mac or MacBook Pro from 2012 or later, or a MacBook from 2015 onwards.
Alongside its reveal of the new macOS Catalina at WWDC 2019, Apple has announced which Macs will be capable of running the updated operating system when it is launched to the public later this year.
A new page called "See if your Mac can run macOS Catalina" has appeared on Apple's website but it isn't entirely clear.
The summary is that 2012 desktop Macs like the Mac mini, iMac, iMac Pro and Mac Pro, or later will be compatible. With notebooks, Apple requires a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro from 2012 or later, or a MacBook from 2015 onwards.
Apple's guide to macOS Catalina compatibility
However, in the case of the MacBook Pro, there is some uncertainty. While Apple states "MacBook Pro 2012 or later," there were actually two models released that year, one in mid-2012 and another in late-2012.
Each entry on Apple's page, including those for MacBook Pros, includes a Learn More button which takes you through to how you can identify which Mac you've got. This identification page makes no reference to Catalina, though, so we can only presume that this macOS will run on both the "mid-2012" and "late 2012" models.
Apple released the first beta version of macOS Catalina to developers for testing on Monday, with members of the Public Beta Program due to receive the software in July.
Alongside its reveal of the new macOS Catalina at WWDC 2019, Apple has announced which Macs will be capable of running the updated operating system when it is launched to the public later this year.
A new page called "See if your Mac can run macOS Catalina" has appeared on Apple's website but it isn't entirely clear.
The summary is that 2012 desktop Macs like the Mac mini, iMac, iMac Pro and Mac Pro, or later will be compatible. With notebooks, Apple requires a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro from 2012 or later, or a MacBook from 2015 onwards.
Apple's guide to macOS Catalina compatibility
However, in the case of the MacBook Pro, there is some uncertainty. While Apple states "MacBook Pro 2012 or later," there were actually two models released that year, one in mid-2012 and another in late-2012.
Each entry on Apple's page, including those for MacBook Pros, includes a Learn More button which takes you through to how you can identify which Mac you've got. This identification page makes no reference to Catalina, though, so we can only presume that this macOS will run on both the "mid-2012" and "late 2012" models.
Apple released the first beta version of macOS Catalina to developers for testing on Monday, with members of the Public Beta Program due to receive the software in July.
Comments
Apple understandably wants to keep official support to within the 7-8 years for an OS, but typically a 10 year old Mac will easily run the latest version of Mac OS. Well, assuming you upgraded said Mac with an SSD drive and 8GB Ram.
My wife’s 2008 Aluminium MacBook is flying along in Mojave with the patch from them.
That said, I will likely leave it at Mojave for a few years to run a few abandonware apps I haven't found a substitute for (nothing vital, but some fun and useful things I like) and get a new(er) machine for my daily driver. I maxed out the 2012 just about as far as it could go (only 1TB SSD though), and it has served me incredibly well for seven full years and could go on longer for many of my usual tasks if I wished.
I definitely got my money's worth out of it, and will continue to do so on at least a casual level for at least another three years, barring mechanical failure. Thanks, Apple!