This article reflects on the 20-year history of Apple's transition from PowerPC to Intel processors and then to Apple Silicon, marking the end of an era as macOS 26 becomes the final version to support Intel Macs. It explores the technical and business motivations behind Apple's initial switch to Intel processors in the early 2000s, including the challenges with PowerPC's performance and power efficiency. The piece also examines why Apple eventually moved away from Intel to its own custom silicon, highlighting the evolution of the Mac platform over two decades.
Background
Apple transitioned from PowerPC to Intel processors in 2005-2006, which significantly improved Mac performance and compatibility. In 2020, Apple announced its move to custom Apple Silicon chips, marking another major architectural shift for the Mac platform.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jun 16, 2026 at 12:32 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10