Officially compatible + actively patched
Choose the newest officially compatible macOS that meets the recipient’s application and accessibility needs. Keep operating system and browser updates current.
Check update evidence →Publication is not adoption.
This guide is a proposed technical standard. Publishing it does not mean the program has adopted every recommendation or qualified every listed machine. Only the program lead can approve adoption.
Coverage: grouped model/year boundaries, not every Macintosh SKU or configuration. PowerPC and 68k families are grouped, not individually catalogued. Verify the exact model identifier before acting.
01
Keep what works. Test what could.
A practical decision path—not a one-size-fits-all operating-system rule.
Older 64-bit Intel, without T2
Start with a supported Mint live USB. Do not mount or browse donor storage. Confirm real hardware behavior, then qualify an installed, updated system before release.
Choose a test edition →T2, Apple silicon or early EFI
These machines need a separate plan. Repair, a narrower role, heritage use or responsible recycling can be better than a fragile install.
Understand the exceptions →1 · IdentifyExact model, architecture, RAM, GPU and storage.
2 · Check supportOfficial OS ceiling and actual vendor update evidence.
3 · Test the workRequired sites, school tools, hardware and accessibility.
4 · Qualify & releaseAuthorized sanitization, installed tests and a support owner.
A desktop appearing is a first test, not a deployment approval. No operating-system choice alone guarantees security, speed or suitability.
02
Compatibility has a ceiling. Support changes.
The dated evidence below is a snapshot, not a guaranteed future support term.
| macOS line | Evidence opened for this snapshot [U] | Proposed WHPE disposition |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Golden Gate | Apple lists 27.2, released October 26, 2026; Apple-silicon compatibility verified [A+] | Preferred on eligible Macs after application checks |
| 26 Tahoe | Apple lists 26.7.2, released October 26, 2026 | Keep patched on officially compatible Intel; review regularly |
| 15 Sequoia | Apple lists 15.8.2, released October 26, 2026 | Keep patched where this is the official ceiling; plan next transition |
| 14 Sonoma | Latest entry found: 14.8.9, August 6, 2026; absent from the listed October macOS round | Not a new WHPE default; reassess support and evaluate Linux |
| 13 Ventura | Latest entry found: 13.7.8, August 20, 2025 | Do not deploy as standard online/password workstation |
| 12 Monterey | Latest entry found: 12.7.6, July 29, 2024 | Evaluate Linux; no obsolete Chrome workaround |
| 11 Big Sur / 10.15 Catalina | Isolated February 2, 2026 entries say no published CVE entries | An isolated release is not proof of broad ongoing security maintenance |
| 10.14 and earlier | Historical compatibility only in this guide | Not the standard internet/credential environment |
Apple’s security list names macOS 27.2, Tahoe 26.7.2 and Sequoia 15.8.2 on October 26, 2026. The Golden Gate 27.2 advisory independently confirms its date. U U3 A+
Proposed standard: prefer patched macOS 27 on eligible Apple-silicon Macs; patched 26 or 15 may remain viable on officially compatible Intel Macs. Treat Sonoma-only machines as a support-review lane, not an automatic new deployment. Apple cautions that not all known security issues are addressed in previous OS versions. U2
An isolated old-OS update is not proof of full security maintenance. Do not assume a permanent “latest three releases” guarantee or infer a formal end-of-life date from this table.
03
Find the right boundary.
Match introduction year and variant—not the year a computer was purchased. All rows remain readable without JavaScript.
Read this table correctly: Intel ceilings exclude patchers and firmware identity conversions. For Apple silicon, “27 eligible” means currently verified compatibility, not a predicted lifetime ceiling. Models with the same official limit are grouped; this is not an every-SKU database.
56 grouped entries · all families
| Model / generation | Official ceiling | Proposed route | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| iMac · 2006 Core Duo (17/20-inch) | 10.6 Snow Leopard | 32-bit CPU: outside modern Mint standard | M |
| iMac · Late 2006 Core 2 Duo (17/20/24-inch) | 10.7 Lion | Specialist EFI assessment; not routine deployment | M |
| iMac · Mid 2007–Mid 2009 (20/24-inch; incl. education) | 10.11 El Capitan | Linux candidate; age, GPU and firmware checks | A9 M |
| iMac · Late 2009–2011 (21.5/27-inch; incl. Late 2011) | 10.13 High Sierra | Linux candidate; GPU/thermal checks | A8 M |
| iMac · Late 2012–2013 (21.5/27-inch; incl. Early 2013) | 10.15 Catalina | Linux candidate; inspect HDD/Fusion storage | A6 M |
| iMac · Mid 2014 21.5-inch; Late 2014 & Mid 2015 27-inch 5K | 11 Big Sur | Linux candidate; HiDPI and GPU checks | A5 M |
| iMac · Late 2015 (21.5-inch, 21.5-inch 4K, 27-inch 5K) | 12 Monterey | Linux candidate | A4 M |
| iMac · 2017 (21.5-inch, 21.5-inch 4K, 27-inch 5K) | 13 Ventura | Linux candidate; Chrome eligibility alone is insufficient | A3 M |
| iMac · 2019 (21.5-inch 4K / 27-inch 5K) | 15 Sequoia | Keep patched macOS; non-T2 Linux only if justified | A1 A2 M |
| iMac · 2020 27-inch 5K | 26 Tahoe | Keep patched macOS; T2 Linux exception | A0 T M |
| iMac Pro · 2017 iMac Pro (all CPU configurations) | 15 Sequoia | Keep patched macOS; T2 Linux exception | A1 A0 T M |
| Mac mini · 2006 Core Solo / Core Duo | 10.6 Snow Leopard | 32-bit CPU: outside modern Mint standard | M |
| Mac mini · 2007 Core 2 Duo | 10.7 Lion | Specialist EFI assessment; not routine deployment | M |
| Mac mini · Early/Late 2009 (including Server) | 10.11 El Capitan | Linux candidate; firmware/GPU checks | A9 M |
| Mac mini · Mid 2010 / Mid 2011 (including Server) | 10.13 High Sierra | Linux candidate; GPU, storage and thermals | A8 M |
| Mac mini · Late 2012 (including Server) | 10.15 Catalina | Linux candidate; inspect every installed disk | A6 M |
| Mac mini · Late 2014 | 12 Monterey | Linux candidate; soldered RAM limits matter | A4 M |
| Mac mini · 2018 Intel (including units sold in later years) | 15 Sequoia | Keep patched macOS; T2 Linux exception | A1 A0 T M |
| Mac Pro · 2006 / 2007 (MacPro1,1 / 2,1) | 10.7 Lion | 64-bit CPU ≠ 64-bit EFI; specialist only | M E1 E2 |
| Mac Pro · Early 2008 / Early 2009 (unmodified identity) | 10.11 El Capitan | Linux candidate; verify firmware, GPU and power cost | A9 M |
| Mac Pro · Mid 2010 / Mid 2012 (including Server) | 10.14 Mojave with recommended Metal GPU | Linux candidate; original GPU may cap macOS at 10.13 | A7 M |
| Mac Pro · Late 2013 cylinder | 12 Monterey | Linux candidate; dual-GPU, cooling and storage checks | A4 M |
| Mac Pro · 2019 Intel tower / rack | 26 Tahoe | Keep patched macOS; T2/PCIe Linux exception | A0 T M |
| MacBook · 2006 Core Duo | 10.6 Snow Leopard | 32-bit CPU: outside modern Mint standard | M |
| MacBook · Late 2006–2007; Early 2008; Late 2008 white | 10.7 Lion | Specialist assessment; distinguish white from aluminum | M |
| MacBook · Late 2008 aluminum; Early/Mid 2009 white | 10.11 El Capitan | Linux candidate; EFI/GPU/RAM checks | A9 M |
| MacBook · Late 2009 / Mid 2010 white unibody | 10.13 High Sierra | Linux candidate; SSD and RAM assessment | A8 M |
| MacBook · Early 2015 12-inch Retina | 11 Big Sur | Linux candidate; keyboard, audio, USB-C checks | A5 M |
| MacBook · Early 2016 12-inch Retina | 12 Monterey | Linux candidate; keyboard, audio, USB-C checks | A4 M |
| MacBook · 2017 12-inch Retina | 13 Ventura | Linux candidate; soldered storage/RAM, battery checks | A3 M |
| MacBook Air · Original Early 2008 | 10.7 Lion | Specialist assessment; very limited hardware | M |
| MacBook Air · Late 2008 / Mid 2009 | 10.11 El Capitan | Linux candidate only after EFI/RAM/GPU checks | A9 M |
| MacBook Air · Late 2010 / Mid 2011 (11/13-inch) | 10.13 High Sierra | Linux candidate; low soldered RAM can disqualify | A8 M |
| MacBook Air · Mid 2012 (11/13-inch) | 10.15 Catalina | Linux candidate; verify fixed RAM capacity | A6 M |
| MacBook Air · Mid 2013 / Early 2014 (11/13-inch) | 11 Big Sur | Linux candidate; Wi-Fi and sleep checks | A5 M |
| MacBook Air · Early 2015 (11/13-inch); 2017 13-inch | 12 Monterey | Linux candidate; battery/Wi-Fi/sleep checks | A4 M |
| MacBook Air · Retina 2018 / 2019 Intel | 14 Sonoma | Review Linux specialist route; T2 — not stock Mint | A2 A1 T M |
| MacBook Air · Retina 2020 Intel (NOT M1) | 15 Sequoia | Keep patched macOS; T2 Linux exception | A1 A0 T M |
| MacBook Pro · Early/Mid 2006 Core Duo (15/17-inch) | 10.6 Snow Leopard | 32-bit CPU: outside modern Mint standard | M |
| MacBook Pro · Late 2006 Core 2 Duo (15/17-inch) | 10.7 Lion | Specialist EFI assessment; not routine deployment | M |
| MacBook Pro · Mid/Late 2007–2009 (all sizes introduced then) | 10.11 El Capitan | Linux candidate; identify EFI and legacy GPU | A9 M |
| MacBook Pro · Mid 2010 / Early & Late 2011 (13/15/17-inch) | 10.13 High Sierra | Linux candidate; hybrid graphics and GPU health critical | A8 M |
| MacBook Pro · Mid/Late 2012; Early 2013 (Retina and non-Retina) | 10.15 Catalina | Linux candidate; test exact GPU configuration | A6 M |
| MacBook Pro · Late 2013 / Mid 2014 Retina (13/15-inch) | 11 Big Sur | Linux candidate; camera/Wi-Fi/dual-GPU checks | A5 M |
| MacBook Pro · Early 2015 13-inch; Mid 2015 15-inch; 2016 13/15-inch | 12 Monterey | Linux candidate; 2016 T1/Touch Bar requires extra checks | A4 M |
| MacBook Pro · 2017 13/15-inch (two/four ports) | 13 Ventura | Linux candidate; T1/Touch Bar/audio checks where fitted | A3 M |
| MacBook Pro · 2018 13/15-inch; 2019 13/15-inch; 2020 Intel 13-inch TWO ports | 15 Sequoia | Keep patched macOS; T2 Linux exception | A1 A0 T M |
| MacBook Pro · 2019 16-inch; 2020 Intel 13-inch FOUR ports | 26 Tahoe | Keep patched macOS; T2 Linux exception | A0 T M |
| Apple silicon · iMac 24-inch M1 (2021) and later Apple-silicon iMacs | 27 Golden Gate currently eligible; not lifetime ceiling | Keep macOS; no x86 Mint USB | A+ S |
| Apple silicon · Mac mini M1 (2020) and later Apple-silicon minis | 27 Golden Gate currently eligible; not lifetime ceiling | Keep macOS; Asahi only after exact-model review | A+ S |
| Apple silicon · MacBook Air / Pro M1 (2020) and later Apple-silicon notebooks | 27 Golden Gate currently eligible; not lifetime ceiling | Keep macOS; Asahi not universal hardware support | A+ S |
| Apple silicon · Mac Studio (2022 onward); Mac Pro (2023 Apple silicon) | 27 Golden Gate currently eligible; not lifetime ceiling | Keep macOS; check Asahi model matrix, not chip name alone | A+ S |
| Apple silicon · MacBook Neo (2026, A18 Pro) | 27 Golden Gate currently eligible; not lifetime ceiling | Keep macOS; Asahi support not established here | A+ |
| Legacy · PowerPC: Power Macintosh / Power Mac, iMac G3/G4/G5, eMac, iBook, PowerBook, PowerPC Mac mini | Varies by exact model; not individually catalogued here | Outside x86 Mint; heritage/offline or specialist disposition | Scope limitation |
| Legacy · 68k: compact Macintosh, Macintosh II, LC, Quadra, Centris, early PowerBook / Performa and related models | Varies by exact model; classic Mac OS, not modern macOS | Outside x86 Mint; heritage/offline or specialist disposition | Scope limitation |
| Legacy · Xserve Intel (supplemental server coverage) | 2006/2008: 10.7; 2009: 10.11 | Specialist server reuse, not standard child desktop | M |
No matching entries. Try a model year or choose All families.
Watch the splits: Early vs Late 2013 MacBook Pro; Mid vs Late 2015 iMac; white vs aluminum Late 2008 MacBook; Intel vs M1 in 2020; two vs four Thunderbolt ports on 2020 Intel MacBook Pro. Years with no new introduction are not separate rows.
Mac Pro 2010/2012 reaches Mojave officially only with a recommended Metal-capable GPU. A flashed 2009 identity is not silently treated as officially supported. A7 M
04
One supported base. Two useful starting points.
The desktop edition should follow measured usability—not a rule that every Intel Mac is the same.
Mint 22.3 Cinnamon
Start here when graphics acceleration works and the computer has comfortable memory and storage. An 8 GB+ machine with a healthy SSD is the proposed practical preference—not a Mint requirement.
Keep it if the real workload stays responsive.Mint 22.3 Xfce
Useful when Cinnamon feels heavy or a 4 GB machine is under memory pressure. Xfce is Mint’s lightest desktop; it does not repair failing storage or add missing hardware drivers.
Choose it if the same workload clearly works better.| Condition | Proposed response | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| 8 GB+ RAM, healthy SSD, working acceleration | Evaluate Cinnamon first | Still test browser, video and required schoolwork |
| 4 GB RAM / older graphics | Compare Xfce and Cinnamon | Modern websites can still overwhelm 4 GB; not an automatic pass |
| 2 GB or less | Upgrade if practical, or evaluate a narrower role | Not routine online-child deployment under this proposal |
| Spinning HDD / Fusion storage | Assess health and repair economics; prefer a compatible SSD | Do not assume a 2.5-inch SATA drive fits every Mac |
| Existing volunteer-supported MATE setup | MATE can be a valid supported middle option | Avoid extra images without a clear support reason |
| Legacy NVIDIA / HWE kernel regression | Technician follows Mint’s release-specific guidance | Do not select a driver merely because it says NVIDIA |
Official Mint facts: 22.3 is supported until April 2029. Mint’s FAQ gives 2 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB recommended, 20 GB disk minimum and 100 GB recommended. Mint 20 onward is 64-bit only. L1 L2 L3
Kernel choice matters as much as desktop choice
Mint’s 22.3 notes flag HWE kernel 6.14 problems on older NVIDIA hardware using the unsupported 470 driver. They document installing 22.1 with kernel 6.8 and upgrading to 22.3 without switching to HWE as an alternative for affected systems. That is a release-specific technician path, not a blanket prescription for every old Mac or GPU.
Use only a maintained kernel/update path. Verify the ISO checksum and authenticity using Mint’s official guide. Repeat tests after installation and updates; live USB performance is not installed SSD performance.
L1 L4Record actual app launch behavior, representative tab/video load, memory pressure, swap and temperatures. No universal benchmark, battery-runtime or boot-speed promises are made here.
05
Know when the normal recipe stops.
The same connector shape does not mean the same architecture, firmware or Linux support.
| Lane | What changes | WHPE rule |
|---|---|---|
| Non-T2 64-bit Intel | Typical Mint test lane; Broadcom Wi-Fi firmware, FaceTime cameras, Retina scaling, older NVIDIA/AMD and dual GPUs can still need work | Qualify each model/GPU configuration; non-T2 does not mean everything works |
| Intel with T2 | Air/Pro 2018–2020 Intel; iMac 27-inch 2020; iMac Pro; mini 2018; Pro 2019 [T] | Keep patched macOS when possible. Linux requires t2linux-informed preparation, not the ordinary Mint recipe |
| Early Intel 32-bit CPU | Core Solo / Core Duo cannot run modern 64-bit Mint | Outside standard image; do not recommend expired 32-bit Mint |
| 64-bit CPU with early 32-bit EFI | CPU bitness and boot-firmware bitness are different; notable early Mac Pro and other early Intel exceptions | Specialist bootloader assessment; don’t promise a normal x86-64 USB will boot |
| Apple silicon | ARM Apple-specific boot chain and hardware drivers; Intel ISO is wrong architecture | Keep macOS by default. A separately maintained Asahi deployment is an expert exception |
| PowerPC / 68k | Different architectures, firmware and software ecosystems | Not Mint targets. Heritage/offline or specialist reuse, not a general modern browsing promise |
T2 Intel Macs · use a specialist plan
Apple lists Intel MacBook Air/Pro introduced in 2018–2020 (excluding M1), 2020 27-inch iMac, iMac Pro, 2018 Mac mini and 2019 Mac Pro as T2 models. T
t2linux documents extra support for internal keyboard, camera and audio; Wi-Fi firmware sourced from macOS; and model-dependent Bluetooth, suspend and GPU limitations. Its roadmap recommends retaining macOS for firmware, recovery and firmware extraction. A stock Mint USB is not a complete T2 deployment recipe.
Startup-security and external-boot preparation require specific authorization. Do not erase macOS first or bypass ownership locks.
T2 T3 D2Apple silicon · not the Intel Mint USB
Use supported macOS as the default. Fedora Asahi Remix is the integrated Linux route to evaluate separately, using its exact-device feature matrix—not a claim that all ARM Macs work alike. Its installation starts from macOS and changes storage; it is not the same no-install live USB test.
| Asahi scope [S/S1/S2/S3] | Verified caveat | Program recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| M1 / M2 family | Substantial GPU, Wi-Fi and device support; matrix still lists Thunderbolt / DP Alt Mode WIP and Touch ID TBA | Exact-device and peripheral review; no blanket Apple-silicon approval |
| M1 iMac 2021 | Matrix lists speakers TBA and microphones WIP | Not a drop-in macOS replacement for classroom calls without a separately qualified solution |
| M2 Mac Pro 2023 | Overview broadly says supported; detailed M2 matrix still labels Installer WIP | Treat as unresolved until exact current installer and hardware qualification are confirmed |
| M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max | Installer yes on listed notebooks/iMac; detailed matrix shows GPU/display work incomplete | Expert evaluation only; newer progress announcements may outrun the matrix |
| M3 Ultra Mac Studio | M3 matrix lists Installer no | Not approved by this guide |
| M4 and newer; A18 Pro Neo | This research did not establish full exact-model Asahi support | Keep macOS; do not extrapolate support from M1/M2 |
Where broad overview wording and detailed matrices disagree, treat support as unresolved until exact installer and required features are qualified. M1/M2 support is not evidence of support for every newer chip.
S S1 S2 S3Early Intel, older GPUs & unsupported macOS patchers
A 64-bit processor does not prove the Mac has a 64-bit EFI boot path. Early Intel machines need exact-model verification; this guide does not inventory every EFI32 case. Core Solo/Core Duo machines cannot run modern 64-bit Mint. Do not revive an expired 32-bit Mint release for online use. See original Mac Pro EFI evidence and MacPro2,1 EFI evidence.
Broadcom Wi-Fi, FaceTime cameras, Retina scaling, old NVIDIA/AMD cards, hybrid graphics and T1/Touch Bar-era notebooks can require additional work even without T2. A fallback graphics mode is not a final performance qualification.
Unsupported macOS patchers are not the proposed charity production default: updates, model-specific graphics and changes to platform security settings can add support burden. Any exception needs a named maintainer, recovery plan and repeat testing; it does not become official Apple support.
06
A working browser is not the whole security story.
Never roll back an OS or freeze an obsolete browser just to preserve saved-password access.
| Browser | Verified minimum / scope | What it does NOT prove |
|---|---|---|
| Current Google Chrome on Mac [B1/B2] | macOS 13 Ventura or newer | Ventura’s ability to install Chrome does not establish current macOS security maintenance |
| Google Chrome on Linux [B2] | 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, openSUSE 15.5+ or Fedora 39+; Intel SSE3-capable CPU or ARM | Mint is Ubuntu-based but is not explicitly named in Google’s supported-distribution list; test the actual package and updates |
| Current Firefox on Mac [B3] | macOS 10.15 or newer | A maintained browser cannot patch vulnerabilities in an otherwise old OS |
| Firefox on Linux [B3] | Published library/package requirements; distro builds may differ | Use a maintained distribution package; check updates and required sites, not just launch success |
| Safari [U] | Apple lists Safari 27.2 for Sequoia/Tahoe in the October 26, 2026 round | Do not infer that Monterey’s old Safari receives the same fixes |
Current Chrome’s macOS 13 minimum is directly verified. This edition deliberately omits the unconfirmed historical Chrome version-number cutoff for Monterey. Firefox’s lower Mac minimum does not make an old underlying OS fully maintained.
Test required learning sites and extensions on a supported installed system. Account recovery, password sync and device-bound passkeys should be checked directly by the account owner on their own qualified device—not by transferring a donor’s browser profile or sharing saved credentials.
Linux also changes native-app compatibility. macOS applications and platform services are not automatically reproduced. Required web alternatives, privacy terms and accessibility need their own review. B1 B2 B3 U
07
From “it boots” to “ready to use.”
Proposed acceptance matrix. These rows are test requirements—not a checklist of completed work.
| Test | Live-session evidence to collect | Installed-system release gate — proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Identity / boot | Exact model, CPU architecture, RAM, GPU, ISO edition/version; desktop appears | Cold boot from internal storage without USB; record kernel/driver versions and recovery route |
| Keyboard / pointer | Typing, click, drag, scroll, right-click, layout, brightness controls | Repeat after updates; no unusable essential keys or pointer behavior |
| Wi-Fi / Ethernet / Bluetooth | Connect, load public HTTPS site, reconnect; test required network/peripherals | Repeat after restart and sleep; stable intended home/school connection |
| Browser / school workflow | Public sites, video playback, sample document/PDF and required web tools | Current browser updates successfully; representative workload usable; owner tests any required account separately |
| Speakers / headphones / microphone | Local playback, volume and mic recording; no distortion | Test both recording and playback after restart; qualify classroom-call use |
| Webcam | Camera preview, image and indicator | Required conferencing browser sees camera and microphone; privacy controls understood |
| Graphics / display | Native resolution, scaling, brightness, video; no corruption | Acceleration and expected displays work; no reliance on a sluggish fallback without explicit limited-role approval |
| Sleep / wake / shutdown | Suspend/resume; network/audio return; clean shutdown | Repeated lid/sleep cycles on laptops and display sleep on desktops; no lockups or unexpected wake/heat |
| Storage / RAM | Internal disks detected; read health data without formatting | Technician verifies health and capacity, appropriate disk/RAM diagnostics; installed read/write test on authorized sanitized storage |
| Battery / power / thermals | Inspect for swelling/damage; charging, fans and unexpected heat | Healthy charger and battery; document measured runtime for intended role; no swollen battery or shutdown under workload |
| Updates / handoff | Identify update path and available supported drivers | Apply updates, restart, rerun essentials; recipient account/OEM setup, documentation and support owner ready |
| Accessibility / application fit | Required input, display, speech and learning aids | Recipient’s essential school/accessibility tools function; approved alternatives documented |
Record four honest outcomes: Pass · Fail · Not tested · Not applicable. Include tester, date in America/Chicago, exact OS/edition/kernel/driver, evidence and any approved workaround. Missing tests are not passes.
Set workload-specific thresholds before batch deployment. Repairs, edition changes or driver/kernel changes require retesting. Keep private identifiers and recipient details out of public test notes.
08
Small observations. Carefully bounded.
Anonymous examples from early evaluation—not a certification of these model families.
2010 15-inch MacBook Pro
MacBookPro6,2; Intel i7 M620, about 4 GB RAM, Intel + NVIDIA GT 330M. Mint 22.3 Cinnamon reached the live desktop. Pointer movement, Wi-Fi connection and public web browsing were observed/reported working.
Hold: internal storage was not detected. Missing, disconnected or failed storage remained possible; hardware inspection was pending.
Audio, microphone, webcam, graphics stability, sleep, battery and installed operation were not yet qualified.
Late-2015 21.5-inch 4K iMac
Intel i5 3.1 GHz quad-core, 8 GB RAM, Iris Pro 6200, Monterey 12.7.6. Official macOS ceiling: Monterey.
Next: live Mint evaluation. No result is recorded in this snapshot.
Internal disk health/type was not independently established. Native 4K scaling, Wi-Fi, audio, camera, graphics and sleep still need testing.
Source: early pilot photos and operator reports, November 8, 2026 (CST). No serial numbers, donor names, account information or inventory photos are published. Both remain evaluation units.
09
Privacy before preparation. Support after handoff.
Reinstalling an operating system is not the same thing as sanitizing donor data.
- Ownership & permissionConfirm lawful transfer and authorization for erasure or hardware changes. Have the legitimate owner remove Activation Lock, firmware passwords or organizational management restrictions. Never bypass them.
- Quarantine donor mediaFollow the technical hub’s proposed data-wiping process. Do not browse or boot into donor data to decide whether it matters. Keep preservation and erasure decisions private and authorized.
- Choose, verify & validate sanitizationUse a media-appropriate approved process and private records, guided by NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 and appropriate media-specific standards. A quick format, reinstall or absence of visible files is not proof of sanitization. Cryptographic erase is not approved by the hub’s current draft; its prerequisites require separate review.
- Install & qualifyOnly after sanitization acceptance, install to the authorized target, apply updates and repeat the installed-system tests. Retain needed recovery/firmware arrangements. Remove technician accounts and saved credentials.
- Hand off with a support ownerRecord the final configuration, tests, approved limitations and sanitization outcome privately. Provide first-boot/recipient account setup, an update guide and a recovery/support route. Never issue shared passwords.
See the existing Data Wiping Standard and Preparation & Linux Mint Image. This guide does not replace those proposed processes or authorize erasure of any individual donation. D D2 L3
Scope, limitations & maintenance
- Grouped introduction/variant boundaries cover the requested mainstream Mac computer families, with Mac Studio and MacBook Neo included from current Apple lists. CPU/BTO variations sharing the same ceiling are grouped.
- Not every SKU, order number, serial number, education/server variant or OS build is catalogued. Verify exact identifiers; EveryMac is a secondary lookup alongside Apple’s primary compatibility pages.
- PowerPC/68k are grouped heritage categories. Detailed classic Mac OS ceilings, specialist Linux ports, clones, prototypes and non-computer Apple products are out of scope. Xserve coverage is an Intel summary only.
- Exact EFI32 inventory is incomplete. Apple-silicon and T2 support is not established by these two pilots. Asahi overview/matrix differences remain deliberately unresolved.
- Vendor support changes. Recheck official pages before every batch and after major OS/browser/kernel changes. Proposed review cadence: at least quarterly, and before Mint 22.3’s April 2029 support boundary.
- The program lead and hardware partner still need to approve acceptance thresholds, sanitizer responsibilities, application set and exception-maintenance ownership.
10
Evidence you can inspect.
All references were reviewed on November 8, 2026, America/Chicago (CST). This embedded guide does not refresh automatically.
Apple supplies primary compatibility and security evidence; EveryMac supplies historical fine-grained mapping. Mint, Google, Mozilla, Asahi and t2linux supply their own requirements and feature notes. Historical installation ceilings are not current support promises.
- A+Apple macOS 27 Golden Gate compatibilityhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/127255
- A0Apple macOS Tahoe 26 compatibilityhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/122867
- A1Apple macOS Sequoia 15 compatibilityhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/120282
- A2Apple macOS Sonoma 14 compatibilityhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/105113
- A3Apple macOS Ventura 13 compatibility (archived)https://support.apple.com/en-us/102861
- A4Apple macOS Monterey 12 compatibility (archived)https://support.apple.com/en-us/103260
- A5Apple macOS Big Sur 11 compatibility (archived)https://support.apple.com/en-us/103111
- A6Apple macOS Catalina 10.15 compatibility (archived)https://support.apple.com/en-us/102765
- A7Apple Mojave specifications — Metal GPU exceptionhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/111930
- A8Apple High Sierra specificationshttps://support.apple.com/en-us/111934
- A9Apple El Capitan specificationshttps://support.apple.com/en-us/111989
- MEveryMac Intel maximum macOS model index (secondary)https://everymac.com/systems/by_capability/maximum-macos-supported-by-all-intel-macs.html
- UApple security releases — dated evidence, not a support promisehttps://support.apple.com/en-us/100100
- U2Apple organizational software-update guidancehttps://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/about-software-updates-depc4c80847a/web
- B1Google Chrome download — macOS minimumhttps://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16737628?hl=en
- B2Google Chrome platform requirementshttps://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7100626?hl=en
- B3Mozilla Firefox system requirementshttps://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/system-requirements/
- L1Mint 22.3 release notes — support and kernel caveatshttps://linuxmint.com/rel_zena.php
- L2Mint edition and architecture guidehttps://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/choose.html
- L3Mint official FAQ — published minimums / OEMhttps://linuxmint.com/faq.php
- L4Mint official ISO — verify authenticityhttps://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=326
- TApple T2 model listhttps://support.apple.com/en-us/103265
- T2t2linux installation roadmaphttps://wiki.t2linux.org/roadmap/
- T3t2linux device and feature statehttps://wiki.t2linux.org/state/
- SFedora Asahi Remix overviewhttps://asahilinux.org/fedora/
- S1Asahi M1 feature matrixhttps://asahilinux.org/docs/platform/feature-support/m1/
- S2Asahi M2 feature matrixhttps://asahilinux.org/docs/platform/feature-support/m2/
- S3Asahi M3 feature matrixhttps://asahilinux.org/docs/platform/feature-support/m3/
- DNIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 — media sanitizationhttps://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/88/r2/final
- D2Apple Activation Lock for Machttps://support.apple.com/en-us/102541
- U3Apple Golden Gate 27.2 security advisory — released October 26, 2026https://support.apple.com/en-us/149521
- E1EveryMac original Mac Pro — 64-bit CPU, 32-bit EFIhttps://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/specs/mac-pro-quad-2.66-specs.html
- E2EveryMac MacPro2,1 — 64-bit CPU, 32-bit EFIhttps://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/specs/mac-pro-eight-core-3.0-specs.html