- Apple is negotiating with Intel to manufacture the entry-level M-series chips using Intel's advanced 2nm 18A node.
- The first processors produced by Intel would arrive, at the earliest, between the second and third quarters of 2027.
- TSMC will continue to be in charge of the most powerful chips (Pro, Max and Ultra) and most of Apple's portfolio.
- The move is in response to the search for greater capacity, less geopolitical risk, and a greater weight of manufacturing in the United States.
The break between Apple and Intel In 2020, when Macs abandoned x86 processors in favor of Apple Silicon, it seemed definitive. However, several reports from the supply chain suggest that both companies are about to resume their relationship under a completely different modelIntel would once again manufacture chips for Apple, but this time as a mere foundry and without intervening in the design.
According to multiple reports from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has already taken the first steps to future generations of entry-level M processors are produced in Intel's factories in the United States starting from 2027The operation would represent a major strategic shift for the entire semiconductor industry and, in turn, would strengthen technological production in North America.
What chips would Intel manufacture and when would they arrive?
The various leaks agree that Intel would only manufacture the entry-level M-series processorsThat is, the SoCs without the Pro, Max, or Ultra designations. These are the chips that Apple uses in high-volume products like the MacBook Air and iPad Pro or iPad Air, and which represent tens of millions of units per year.
The reports specifically mention future generations M6 and M7 as the main candidatesHowever, other versions may be included depending on how Apple's internal schedule evolves. The idea is for Intel to begin shipping production silicon between... second and third quarters of 2027provided that the preliminary tests go as planned.
In practice, the chip that Intel would receive would be the basic M-class SoC which Apple typically reserves for lightweight laptops and high-end tablets. It also opens the door for this processor to potentially power an eventual A more affordable MacBook based on a chip derived from the iPhone, a product that has been speculated about for the second half of the decade.
In terms of volume, estimates indicate that combined shipments for MacBook Air and iPad Pro/Air are expected to sell between 15 and 20 million units annually around 2026 and 2027. It's not a massive figure compared to Apple's entire catalog, but it is significant enough to give Intel's foundry business a boost.
It is worth emphasizing that, from the end user's perspective, No difference in performance or features is expected. compared to chips produced by TSMC. The design will continue to be entirely Apple's responsibility, with the same Arm architecture and the same integration with macOS and iPadOS.
Intel 18A: the advanced node that wants to seduce Apple
The big draw for Apple lies in the Intel 18A semiconductor process, the most advanced node from the American company. It is a technology of 2 nanometers (sub-2 nm according to Intel itself) which promises improvements of up to 15% increase in efficiency per watt and about a 30% increase in density in front of the Intel node 3.
This same 18A process is what drives the new Intel Core Ultra 3 series (Panther Lake)and is already being produced in factories located in the United States. For Apple, this means having an additional supplier capable of manufacture next-generation chips outside of Asia, something that increasingly weighs on the decisions of large technology companies.
According to Kuo, Apple has already signed a confidentiality agreement with Intel and would have early access to Process Design Kit (PDK) of 18A. At this time, the Cupertino company would be carrying out internal simulations to verify if the process meets its requirements of efficiency and reliability.
The next key milestone is Intel's publication of the final versions of the PDK (1.0 and 1.1), planned for the first quarter of 2026If the results meet expectations, the production phase would be activated so that the first M-series chips manufactured by Intel could be ready by 2027.
This move would also be an opportunity for Intel to demonstrate that its foundry strategy is serious. Securing a demanding customer like Apple on a cutting-edge node like 18A would be a significant achievement. It would be worth almost more as a technological and symbolic endorsement than by the volume of direct income.
TSMC will continue to dominate the high-end Apple Silicon market.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the potential agreement, all sources insist that TSMC will remain Apple's primary partnerThe Taiwanese company will continue producing the more advanced chips of the M series —the Pro, Max, and Ultra variants that are mounted on the MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, or Mac Pro—, as well as the A-series SoC for iPhone.
In fact, it is TSMC that is preparing the nodes that will allow Apple to make the leap to 2 nanometers in future high-end iPhones and in the upcoming Macs geared towards professionals. Leaks suggest that models like a possible iPhone 18 Pro or even a foldable iPhone could debut with even more advanced manufacturing processes.
In this distribution of roles, Intel would take over the less complex variants of the M chipswhile TSMC would retain most of the production and higher value-added parts. For Apple, this amounts to a mixed model: distributes workloads among foundries based on cost, capacity availability, and performance goals.
The move fits with a trend that the company has been applying to other components for years: not to depend on a single supplier for critical items, especially in a context of geopolitical tensions and potential logistical disruptions.
In practical terms, the higher-end devices will continue to arrive first. with chips manufactured by TSMCwhile higher-volume, lower-cost products will be able to rely on the new capacity offered by Intel's factories in North America.
Geopolitics, US manufacturing, and pressure on the supply chain
Beyond the engineering aspects, this collaboration between Apple and Intel has a clear political component. Manufacturing a portion of the M chips in the United States would allow Apple to... to strengthen its image as a company committed to national production, something that fits with the discourse of "Made in USA" driven by the Donald Trump administration.
The chips produced under node 18A are currently concentrated in facilities such as the Intel's Fab 52 in ArizonaIf Apple decides to use them in its MacBook Air and iPad Pro, it could present those products as a tangible example of high value-added hardware manufactured on American soil, something that is very appealing in terms of institutional relations.
Meanwhile, Apple has been looking for some time. diversify its supply chain to reduce exposure to AsiaThe concentration of much of the semiconductor capacity in Taiwan and surrounding areas is a recurring concern for governments and large corporations, especially in Europe or the United States, where multi-million dollar programs have already been launched to attract chip factories.
Having Intel as a second source in a 2nm process would give Apple a additional room for maneuver in the face of possible tensions or interruptions that affect TSMC. It's not so much about replacing its Taiwanese partner as it is about create redundancy in a critical part of the business.
In this context, the potential agreement not only has an impact on the United States, but also on Europe and other markets that depend on a constant flow of Apple products. A more geographically distributed manufacturing ecosystem reduces the risk of shortages and price spikes should a regional crisis occur.
What Apple gains and what Intel risks
From Apple's perspective, the benefits of this move are relatively clear. On the one hand, it gains increased production capacity in an advanced node without having to wait exclusively for TSMC's expansion plans. On the other hand, It reduces the risk of relying on a single foundry. for virtually their entire chip catalog.
Beyond the technical aspects, there's the political and economic interpretation: some of their next-generation computers and tablets could more legitimately bear the label of Product manufactured in the United StatesThis helps both in terms of image and in the negotiation of tariffs and regulations.
For Intel, however, the move has a more existential dimension. The company is going through one of the most delicate moments in its recent historywith multimillion-dollar operating losses and a loss of market share to rivals such as AMD in the PC segment, in addition to the pressure to enter the AI accelerator business dominated by NVIDIA.
Intel's foundry division, renamed Intel Foundry, needs top-tier clients who trust their most advanced nodes to demonstrate that it can compete, at least partially, with TSMC. In this sense, winning Apple's orders to manufacture 2nm M chips would be a huge boost to his reputationeven if the associated revenues are not comparable to those of other contracts.
According to Kuo, the importance of this potential contract goes beyond the numbers: if 18A convinces Apple, it would open the door for future nodes like 14A and successors can attract even more projects, both from Cupertino and from other technology companies interested in a real alternative to Taiwanese hegemony in advanced semiconductors.
Impact on Mac and iPad users in Spain and Europe
For those who buy Mac and iPad in Spain or other European countriesThe transition to shared production between TSMC and Intel should not result in any visible changes in the short term. The devices will continue to be sold through the same channels and with the same product lines.
The most predictable thing is that the first European models with M-series chips manufactured by Intel They will arrive starting in 2027, integrated into generations of MacBook Air and iPad Pro or iPad Air that have not yet been released. Their positioning would continue to be that of lightweight laptops and high-end tablets for personal, educational, and professional use.
With all designs under Apple's direct control, it is expected that The differences between an M chip manufactured by TSMC and one produced by Intel are virtually impossible to perceive. In everyday use: same specifications, same battery life and, in theory, the same level of stability.
An indirect effect, if the strategy works, could be a greater stability in product availabilityWith two large foundries sharing the workload, Apple will be better positioned to avoid stockouts during periods of high demand, something especially relevant in campaigns like the Back to school or Black Friday in Europe.
From the perspective of European administrations, the fact that Part of the production of key chips is done outside of Asia This aligns with current supply security policies. Although Europe is boosting its own manufacturing through initiatives like the EU Chips Act, the combination of TSMC and Intel as Apple partners reduces the risk of any localized problems impacting the European market.
Everything suggests that, if this new phase of collaboration materializes, Apple and Intel will rewrite their relationship in very different terms than in the era of Macs with x86 processorsApple will maintain absolute control over the design and will divide production between TSMC and Intel to gain technological and political leverage, while Intel will have the opportunity to demonstrate in practice that its commitment to becoming a major global foundry is genuine. For users, especially in markets like Spain and the rest of Europe, the result should translate into a more resilient Mac and iPad offering, without sacrificing the level of performance and efficiency that has characterized Apple Silicon since its inception.
I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.
If you have any questions, my knowledge ranges from everything related to the Windows operating system as well as Android for mobile phones. And my commitment is to you, I am always willing to spend a few minutes and help you resolve any questions you may have in this internet world.