A new report suggests that Intel has begun producing low-end Apple chipsets
Intel has begun initial production of chips for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Mac lineup, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The development follows a Wall Street Journal report last week that Apple and Intel had struck a deal to produce chips together, and Kuo’s update suggests the two companies have moved quickly to get production underway.
According to Kuo, the chips being manufactured at Intel are based on its 18A-P process node using Foveros advanced packaging technology. The order mix is roughly 80 percent iPhone, which Kuo says mirrors Apple’s broader device sales mix. More importantly, these are described as low-end or legacy processors, meaning Intel is likely handling chips for older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models still being sold today rather than Apple’s latest flagship chips. Let’s talk about it in a little more detail below:
What Intel is making, and what TSMC still handles
Kuo outlines a phased production roadmap for the Apple-Intel arrangement: small-scale testing through 2026, a ramp in 2027, continued growth in 2028, and a natural decline by 2029 as Intel’s 18A-P technology ages out. Apple is also said to be evaluating Intel’s other advanced-node technologies, which suggests this partnership could expand beyond its current scope if early results are promising.
TSMC, however, is not being displaced, and the situation is a little more nuanced. Kuo expects TSMC to remain Apple’s primary chip manufacturer for over 90 percent of supply share even once Intel’s production is fully operational. The situation would be better understood as Apple reducing its dependence on a single supplier rather than move away from TSMC entirely. It’s a sound strategy that makes sense given ongoing geopolitical concerns around the company and its growing commitments to AI.
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There is no indication that users would see any difference in day-to-day performance or quality between Intel-made and TSMC-made chips for these legacy products, since Apple would still control the chip design and final device tuning.
For Apple, adding Intel as a second chip manufacturer gives it more leverage and makes its supply chain more resilient. For Intel, getting Apple’s orders is a big vote of confidence in its revived foundry ambitions under the 18A process node. It is worth noting that Kuo was also the first to report last November that Apple and Intel were exploring this renewed partnership, so his follow-up carries considerable credibility.
No specific chip names have been confirmed, and Apple has not made any official announcement either. As production scales up through 2027, more details on which devices benefit from Intel-made chips will likely emerge.
