Apple Rumored to Partner With Intel on iPhone Chips

[MacRumors]

It has once again been rumored that Apple might revive its chipmaking partnership with Intel, but the chips would be designed by Apple rather than Intel.

In a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu reiterated his expectation that Intel will begin supplying some Apple chips using its future 14A process, which will reportedly be ready for mass production in 2028.

Last month, Pu said that he expected Intel to reach a chip supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone models starting in 2028. Based on that timeframe, Intel could supply Apple with at least a portion of future A21 or A22 chips for iPhones, but TSMC is expected to remain Apple's primary chipmaking partner.

There is no indication that Intel would play a role in designing the iPhone chips, with its involvement expected to be strictly limited to fabrication. That would differ from the era of Intel Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture. Apple began transitioning away from Intel processors in Macs in 2020.

Intel also supplied Apple with cellular modems for some iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.

Apple's return to Intel might also involve some Mac and iPad chips. Last year, Tianfeng Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Intel to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip for select Mac and iPad models as early as mid-2027. For this, Kuo said Apple planned to utilize Intel's 18A process. He did not mention the iPhone.

Intel would help Apple diversify its supply chain, which could come at a pivotal time, as Nvidia has reportedly surpassed Apple as TSMC's largest customer amid rising competition for chip supply for consumer devices and especially AI servers. Apple would also be boosting its U.S. manufacturing, in line with the Trump administration's push for domestic production.

Article Link: Apple Rumored to Partner With Intel on iPhone Chips

 

[Astuces iOS]

Are we dead ass????

 

[Darkwalker]

This decision is entirely political.

 

[Jemorama]

Intel has to get revenue somehow, not a horrible idea to be a manufacture.

 

[rotvaldi]

It doesn’t matter who supply the chip if the Operative System still poop 💩

 

[JPack]

It's a decent compromise because Intel's process isn't as mature, but Intel needs volumes to survive. Apple wants cheaper chips, but the upcoming TSMC A16 node will be expensive. As a compromise, the base M and A chips can be less power efficient.

 

[justanotherdave]

Apple has designed all their processors in-house since 2013. Why would anyone expect that to ever change with Intel?

There’s no way Apple will ever go back to buying processors from another company for any their products. Why go backwards?

 

[justanotherdave]

It's a decent compromise because Intel's process isn't as mature. Apple wants cheaper chips and the base M and A chips can be less power efficient.

Made-up drivel. No way Apple gets Intel to make anything for them if it’s inferior to their existing products.

 

[HouseLannister]

Intel makes the chips, Google makes the AI and servers. Gives Apple time to focus on charging us for iWork features and... Liquid Glass. Yay(?) Meanwhile, I'm still waiting on App Library to be improved since iOS 14.

 

[JoshuaBru]

This decision is entirely political.

How so?

 

[TimCooked]

This decision is entirely political.

No. Apple is no longer the highest priority to TSMC. AI is here to stay and going nowhere. If Nvidia and others can drive revenue of TSMC higher, TSMC will prefer Nvidia and other AI companies over Apple.

Apple has failed to adapt their AI strategy so far. And iPhone´s revenues do not grow as much as Nvidia´s revenue.

On the one hand, business with Apple is good, because it is predictable. But on the other hand, business with Apple does not generate higher profits.

Either Apple comes out with growth drivers or Apple keeps getting rotten and less relevant than ever to TSMC.

Intel is the way to go. No option.

 

[TouchMint.com]

Intel trying to recover from that 15% stock drop this morning…

 

[Anaxarxes]

Here, fixed the click/rage-bait article for you

Apple Rumored to Partner With Intel on iPhone Chip Manufacturing

 

[JPack]

Made-up drivel. No way Apple gets Intel to make anything for them if it’s inferior to their existing products.

How can it be "inferior" if A21 or A22 haven't even been released yet?

The performance and power efficiency between A21 and A21 Pro will just be greater.

 

[ErneX]

I hope you are not confusing buying Intel designed processors with hiring Intel to fab Apple chips, just like it’s currently the case with TSMC.

 

[munpip214]

Intel’s 14A is supposed to be comparable to TSMC’s latest offerings. The problem is people tend to compare Windows to Apple when comparing efficiency and performance of Intel to TSMC. But that’s not really fair to Intel. If Apple was designing the hardware and software to work with 14A, I think we’d see them outperform every PC

 

[kkclstuff]

how/where does this align with chips being made here in USA? wasn't the story (post pandemic) that the US saw "the writing on the wall" and we need to bring production here (both for jobs and security); wasn't there an earlier planned TSMC plant in the southwest, Apple was going to start building manufacturing chips here (in US), etc etc is that all delayed? or is this the outcome of all that deliberating and negotiating?

 

[c84216]

The headline is designed to be intentionally misleading. Its designed to engage clicks so people will be initially mislead into thinking somehow Apple Silicon is failing and they're desperately crawling back to Intel.

Rather, they're using Intel's foundry services. With TSMC being consumed with AI chip manufacturing and raising its costs, having a diversified foundry situation is the obvious, intelligent thing to do.

 

[Wx_Man]

This is Tim Apple kowtowing to Trump to stay in his good graces while helping prop up a failed tech dinosaur the United States now owns because Trump bought a majority stake in them late last year.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

I hope you are not confusing buying Intel designed processors with hiring Intel to fab Apple chips, just like it’s currently the case with TSMC.

Did you read the very first sentence of the article?

 

[JPack]

The headline is designed to be intentionally misleading. Its designed to engage clicks so people will be initially mislead into thinking somehow Apple Silicon is failing and they're desperately crawling back to Intel.

Rather, they're using Intel's foundry services. With TSMC being consumed with AI chip manufacturing and raising its costs, having a diversified foundry situation is the obvious, intelligent thing to do.

It's not misleading at all, just a lot of uneducated people making assumptions.

The chip design and fab process are intertwined. You don't just design a chip and toss it over the fence for fabrication. There are engineering trade-offs, design constraints, yield, PPA, related to the process. Intel is a partner.

This is the same with iPhone and AirPods. Luxshare helps design AirPods so it can be manufactured. Luxshare is a partner.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

It's important to have a diverse supply chain. No business should be placing all their eggs in a single basket.

 

[justanotherdave]

We

How can it be "inferior" if A21 or A22 haven't even been released yet?

The performance and power efficiency between A21 and A21 Pro will just be greater.

You’re the one who claimed, without any evidence whatsoever, that Intel chips will be cheaper, consume more power and their process is less mature.

Apple isn’t going to have an Intel fabbed processor in the iPhone 19 that sucks more power than the TSMC processor in the 19 Pro. Nor are they going to use Intel processors in an iPhone 19 that somehow have worse battery life than the iPhone 18 with TSMC.

Years ago Apple sourced the A9 from Samsung and TSMC and there was a lot of backlash when people found out they had the (slightly) inferior processor from Samsung. No way Apple wants to go through that scenario again.

 

[sw1tcher]

This decision is entirely political.

This is a financial decision. Turning Intel into a viable competitor against Taiwan Semi means Taiwan Semi has less pricing leverage over its customers. Taiwan Semi might think twice before raising prices too much over the next 4 years.

TSMC Is Experiencing A Tight Supply For 2nm Wafers Due To The AI Boom, Will Reportedly Raise Prices Of Its Advanced Nodes For Four Consecutive Years, Starting From New Year’s Day

Exceptionally high demand for TSMC’s 2nm wafers means that the company will reportedly introduce price hikes for four consecutive years

wccftech.com

TSMC Is Experiencing A Tight Supply For 2nm Wafers Due To The AI Boom, Will Reportedly Raise Prices Of Its Advanced Nodes For Four Consecutive Years, Starting From New Year’s Day

Dec 28, 2025

Demand for TSMC’s 2nm wafers has forced a supply choke, as the Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing giant’s capacity is booked until the end of 2026. As the company benefits from the raging AI boom, customers of TSMC’s advanced processes have been notified that they will have to bear price increases for four consecutive years, starting from 2026. While the first quarter of next year is generally slow, analysts are optimistic that these price hikes will help TSMC maintain adequate momentum, but clients should prepare their finances because the first round of increases is expected to take effect from New Year’s Day.

Despite sub-3nm wafers experiencing price bumps for four consecutive years, TSMC’s customers do not appear to take a backseat, even though they have the option to place orders with Samsung and its 2nm GAA process. According to the Economic Daily News, TSMC will introduce a single-digit price increase in 2026, though the actual figure will depend on the customer’s order level and contractual agreements.


Apple giving business to Intel would give other companies (e.g. AMD, NVidia, Qualcomm, Broadcom, etc) the confidence to do the same.

 

[JPack]

We


You’re the one who claimed, without any evidence whatsoever, that Intel chips will be cheaper, consume more power and their process is less mature.

Apple isn’t going to have an Intel fabbed processor in the iPhone 19 that sucks more power than the TSMC processor in the 19 Pro. Nor are they going to use Intel processors in an iPhone 19 that somehow have worse battery life than the iPhone 18 with TSMC.

Years ago Apple sourced the A9 from Samsung and TSMC and there was a lot of backlash when people found out they had the (slightly) inferior processor from Samsung. No way Apple wants to go through that scenario again.

If Intel processes were better, cheaper in any way, Intel would have committed customers for 18A. Even today, Intel 14A doesn't have committed customers (other than Apple due to political pressure).

TSMC A16 and A14 have committed customers including Apple, AMD, Nvidia, Qualcomm, etc.

Actions speak the loudest.

You do realize there's a upcoming tariff on imported semiconductors, right? It's not like Apple wanted to choose Intel voluntarily.