According to recent industry reports, Intel could manufacture Apple’s lower-end M-series chips starting as early as mid-2027. Under this plan, Intel would act as a foundry (manufacturer) for chips designed by Apple — not redesign them — meaning Apple will continue designing the chip architecture, while Intel handles fabrication.
This marks a big change because until now, Apple has relied almost exclusively on TSMC for all M-series (and A-series) chips.
📦 What Intel’s Role Would Be — And Which Devices Could Get Intel-Made Chips
- Intel would likely produce the entry-level M-series chips — the lower-tier chips used in budget or base models, not the high-end “Pro/Max/Ultra” variants.
- Expected devices to use these Intel-made chips include budget-friendly versions of Apple’s laptops and tablets — e.g., the MacBook Air, base-model iPads, or entry-level iPad Pro/MacBook models.
- The chip manufacturing would use Intel’s advanced “18AP” (or “18A / 18AP/18-node”) fabrication process — a step that aims to give Apple chips worldwide-class manufacturing performance even when produced outside TSMC.
🌍 Why This Matters — For Apple, Intel, and the Chip Industry
- Supply-chain diversification for Apple: By adding Intel as a second foundry, Apple reduces reliance on a single manufacturer (TSMC), which helps hedge against geopolitical risk, supply disruptions, and rising demand. NewsBytes
- Boost for Intel’s foundry business: For years, Intel has aimed to revive its semiconductor manufacturing arm. Securing Apple as a customer would be a major win and signal confidence in Intel’s manufacturing capabilities.
- Potential impact on pricing and availability: If Apple is able to produce base-level devices via Intel’s foundries, it could help maintain or lower entry-level prices, or at least improve supply — especially for cost-sensitive markets globally.
- Implications for global manufacturing politics: With increasing geopolitical tension and a push toward “friend-shoring” and domestic supply chains, having a U.S.-based supplier like Intel makes sense for Apple — particularly if regulatory or trade pressures rise.
✅ What to Watch Next
- Whether the plan becomes official — as of now, these are reports and predictions (from supply-chain analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo and related sources).
- What exact chip(s) Intel will produce — whether the M-series base chips (e.g. M6/M7 or yet to be named) or a subset, and which Apple devices will ship them.
- How this affects performance, battery life, pricing and global supply — whether Intel-made M-chips match the quality and efficiency of those from TSMC.
- How this shift impacts competition among foundries (Intel vs TSMC) and broader semiconductor manufacturing strategies globally.
