Why You Need to Prep for the End of Intel Macs
Apple doesn’t do things halfway. With the success of the M1, M2, M3, and now the blindingly fast M4 chips, the writing’s on the wall: Intel Macs are officially legacy gear. New macOS updates are increasingly optimised for Apple Silicon, and performance differences are too big to ignore.
If you’re still running Intel devices in your environment, it’s time to prepare for a gradual, well-planned exit. (Not with panic - with purpose!)
🧠 Why Intel Macs Are Phasing Out
Apple made the shift to its own silicon in 2020. Since then:
All new Macs have shipped with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4)
macOS releases are increasingly focused on ARM architecture
Intel devices are no longer receiving the same feature support
Apps are moving toward native Apple Silicon optimisation
What this means:
You’re not unsupported yet—but you’re definitely operating on a countdown. Over time, compatibility and performance will both start to suffer.
📋 Audit Your Existing Fleet
Start by understanding where you’re at:
How many Intel Macs are still active?
Are any mission-critical roles still tied to Intel-only software?
Are those users experiencing performance drag or overheating?
Rocketbox tip:
We recommend tagging all Intel devices in your MDM and setting a "sunset review" timeline for each. It's easier to act on what you can clearly track.
🔁 Set a Phased Replacement Plan
You don’t need to swap everything overnight. Here's a simple staged approach:
Prioritise high-usage or aging devices
Pair upgrades with onboarding or role changes
Start buying only Apple Silicon going forward
Educate staff on what's changing and why
By the time Apple drops Intel support altogether, your fleet will already be ready.
🧰 Watch for Software Gaps
While most apps now run natively on Apple Silicon (or via Rosetta 2), some edge cases still exist:
Niche industry tools
Older virtualisation software
Custom internal builds
Test early. Check vendor roadmaps. And use Rocketbox to assess app compatibility across your org before making the leap.
💸 What About Resale Value?
The longer you hold onto Intel Macs, the faster their value drops.
If you’re looking to recoup costs, now’s the time to:
Collect and assess decommissioned devices
Use certified wiping tools for secure offboarding
Work with Rocketbox as your hardware buyback partner
🚀 Rocketbox Recommendation
This isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a turning point. Apple Silicon is faster, cooler (literally), and built for the future. The key is moving proactively, not reactively.
Let us help you:
Audit and tag your Intel devices
Build a phased transition plan
Prep your MDM policies for mixed fleet management
Train staff for a smooth user experience
📧 hello@rocketbox.au
📞 (03) 7054 8110
🔧 Modernise your Mac fleet before the Mac fleet modernises without you.
