Are you curious to see whether your Mac, iPhone, iPad or other Apple device will run the new operating systems announced at the WWDC 2019 keynote? Here is the complete run-down of the minimum system you need to run them.
Devices Compatible with macOS Catalina
- iMac 2012 and later
- iMac Pro
- Mac Pro 2013 and later
- Mac mini 2012 and later
- MacBook 2015 and later
- MacBook Air 2012 and later
- MacBook Pro 2012 and later
Note: Memory, storage and graphics do not matter. If you have one of these Macs or newer, you can run macOS Catalina. Naturally, you’ll need enough storage to download and install the system.
Devices Compatible with iOS 13
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPod touch (7th generation, 2019)
Devices Compatible with iPadOS
- iPad Air 2 (2014)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2015)
- iPad mini 4 (2015)
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro (2016)
- iPad (5th generation, 2017)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro (2017)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (2018)
- iPad (6th generation, 2018)
- iPad mini (5th generation, 2019)
- iPad Air (3rd generation, 2019)
Devices Compatible with watchOS 6:
- Apple Watch Series 1-4
Note: Also requires iPhone compatible with iOS 13.
Devices Compatible with tvOS 13:
- Apple TV 4K
- Apple TV HD
I am running High Sierra, will I need to update to Mojave before moving to Catalina
Bill: No, but why skip Mojave, but jump on Catalina?
My iMac won’t run Mojave so what will happen to my iTunes when iTunes is replaced with the new apps? I run High Sierra thanks
Simon: Nothing. You'll still have iTunes and your media will still be there as before. I'd imagine that eventually server-side services like Apple Music, the iTunes Store, movie rentals and so on will get support for a number of years. Our old pre-App Store Apple TVs still work, as an example.
Well no love for my iPhone 6. Looks like I’ll have to figure out something. I wanted to wait one more year to get 5G in next years iPhones. What to do........
Karl: Well, if it helps, I seriously doubt that we'll go from 2019 where no one has 5G, to 2020 when 5G is common. Even if late 2020 iPhones have 5G ability, I don't see it making much of a difference for most people yet as there just won't be enough service.
If I update my MacBook Air to Catalina, but cannot take my iPhone 6 to iOS 13, will I loose the ability to administer my music/podcasts on my phone?
bear: Are you still using an iTunes sync to do that? No, you shouldn't, as that functionality goes to the Finder in Catalina but works like iTunes in Mojave.
I haven’t updated my devices, primarily because I fear Catalina will not see me iPhone 6 or allow me to update my phone’s music files — or move audiobooks from my MacBook to my phone.
bear: Catalina won't be out until later September at the earliest. I don't think you have anything to fear, though.
why do they stop iMac upgrades at 2012 I have the 2011 iMac and I sure wish they would go back one year. I'm glad I have my 2015 MacBook Pro to get it. thanks.
Timothy: Hard to what the exact reason is, perhaps the speed of the processor, or the bus, or the graphics chips. Apple has to draw the line somewhere.
Gary, I have a mid 2011 IMac; will Catalina run on it?
Tim: Just look at the list above. "iMac 2012 and later"
I tried to upgrade my 2013 MacBook Pro from Sierra to Mohave last year and it went black and locked up. Mac Support couldn't help over the phone either. I had to drive an hour away to an Apple store and was there for two hours while they tried to get me running again. Now I hear Catalina is coming out but I'm too afraid to try again to upgrade to Mohave or Catalina when that comes out. Any thoughts as to why my Mac locked up when trying to upgrade? The techs at the store had no idea.
Cindy: Impossible to say without a firsthand look, sorry.
Tim: The cutoff point has to do with the capability of the graphics chipset to run Metal 2. The old graphics software technology used was OpenGL.