Apple may be preparing a major shake-up in how it makes the processors that power future MacBooks and iPhones. New chatter suggests the company is turning to Intel’s foundry business for upcoming Apple silicon, driven largely by growing capacity pressure at TSMC and the global rush to secure advanced chip production for AI-era hardware.
For years, Apple has relied heavily on TSMC to manufacture its custom chips, including the M-series processors used in MacBooks and the A-series chips found in iPhones. That partnership has largely worked smoothly—but the landscape has changed fast. As AI demand surged, the world’s biggest tech firms began placing massive orders for cutting-edge wafers, and TSMC’s most advanced nodes became increasingly constrained. The result: tighter supply, less flexibility, and higher costs that can ripple into pricing and availability for consumer devices.
That’s where Intel reportedly comes back into the picture.
Rumors point to a preliminary Apple–Intel chipmaking agreement that was said to be signed in December 2025. If accurate, the deal would give Apple an additional manufacturing option at a time when leading-edge capacity is at a premium. It also aligns with the broader push for more US-based manufacturing, a theme that has gained political momentum. Reports also suggest former President Donald J. Trump encouraged Apple to work with Intel during a White House meeting, framing Intel as a preferred domestic partner as “Made in USA” efforts expand.
Two Apple chips are now being linked to Intel’s upcoming process technologies.
The first is Apple’s next Mac processor, widely rumored to be the M7. According to the claims making rounds, the M7 would be built using Intel’s 18A-P process and could enter mass production by the end of 2027. If that timeline holds, it would mark one of Apple’s biggest manufacturing shifts in years, potentially affecting future MacBook launches and availability.
The second chip is said to be a next-generation iPhone processor—often referenced as the A21 in earlier rumors. This part is rumored to use Intel’s 14A process and may reach mass production by the end of 2028. That would put Intel in the position of producing a smartphone-class chip for one of the most successful consumer products on the planet.
There’s also an interesting competitive twist. Apple’s A-series chips have increasingly been viewed as viable PC-class performers thanks to Apple’s ongoing success in laptops, and any expansion of those chips into broader consumer computing only raises the stakes. Intel would be manufacturing silicon that, in real-world products, competes directly with many Intel-powered laptops—yet the foundry business is built on exactly that kind of customer relationship.
From a strategy standpoint, there are clear upsides on both sides.
For Apple, a second advanced manufacturing source could reduce dependence on a single supplier, ease bottlenecks, and improve leverage on pricing and long-term capacity planning. For Intel, landing Apple as a foundry customer would be a high-profile win, potentially boosting confidence among other companies considering Intel Foundry for leading-edge production.
Of course, all of this remains in the rumor stage, and chip roadmaps can shift quickly based on yield, cost, performance targets, and broader supply-chain realities. But if Apple truly brings Intel into the manufacturing mix for future MacBook and iPhone chips, it could reshape the semiconductor landscape—and influence the price, performance, and availability of Apple devices for years to come.
