Report: Intel is Testing Production of Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac Chips

[MacRumors]

TSMC has been the exclusive supplier of Apple's systems-on-a-chip since 2016, but that 10-year streak could be nearing its end.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said that Intel has "kicked off" small-scale testing of lower-end iPhone, iPad, and Mac chip fabrication, with production expected to ramp up throughout 2027 and 2028. Kuo did not indicate exactly which of Apple's A-series and/or M-series chips would be manufactured by Intel.

Apple is utilizing Intel's 18A process for these chips, and it is evaluating Intel's other advanced-node technologies, according to Kuo.

By sourcing chips from two suppliers, Apple can negotiate lower costs and bolster supply. In this case, Apple rekindling a partnership with Intel could win it favor with the Trump administration, which wants more U.S. manufacturing. However, Kuo said Taiwan's TSMC will remain responsible for more than 90% of Apple's chip supply.

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.

All in all, these would be Apple-designed chips manufactured by Intel in the U.S., for use in some lower-end iPhone, iPad, and Mac models.

Apple's potential return to Intel has been reported by numerous sources by this point, but an official announcement has still yet to be made.

Article Link: Report: Intel is Testing Production of Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac Chips

 

[turbineseaplane]

I have a feeling Apple will be needing domestic production capacity, perhaps more than may seem apparent at the moment.

I wish they were already further along that path honestly.

 

[1037]

Intel is attempting to do 10 years worth of development in 4 years time in order to become competitive again.
I hope they pull it off.

 

[jz0309]

Let's be clear, it is Apple testing the Intel process here.
Apple had to first update the design of whatever chip, then tape it out and then Intel processes it... I have not seen any reports anywhere of such activities.and most likely it requires more iterations to get it right.
Shall be interesting to watch

 

[winxmac]

• In 2020, Apple started the transition from intel to Apple Silicon.
• In 2026, Apple is seeking the help of intel to manufacture Apple Silicon.

 

[jz0309]

• In 2020, Apple started the transition from intel to Apple Silicon.
• In 2026, Apple is seeking the help of intel to manufacture Apple Silicon.

So what? Is that a bad thing?
It is a smart business move.

 

[EU-Regulations]

reminds me of the good old days when everything  was safe. really safe. I guess the supply chain guy squeezed the most efficiency out of it all... for shareholders. the community is pretty pissed.

 

[bodonnell202]

• In 2020, Apple started the transition from intel to Apple Silicon.
• In 2026, Apple is seeking the help of intel to manufacture Apple Silicon.

It's a little different here as Apple used to use Intel designed and manufactured chips in Macs (and Samsung designed and manufactured chips in early iPhones). Now all their chips are designed by Apple but they are still manufactured by a 3rd party, which has exclusively been TSMC for the last several years, but now they are looking at other chip manufacturing partners to manufacture Apple designs. It's a smart business move to diversify their suppliers, it's just a matter of whether or not Intel can hit the mark in terms of performance and efficiency.

 

[EU-Regulations]

So what? Is that a bad thing?
It is a smart business move.

no its not. you know why.

 

[Jonas Danielsson]

Intel do they really have knowledge to build he apple silicon the failed to compete again the apple silicon both on raw power in single core and power consumptions

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

So what? Is that a bad thing?
It is a smart business move.

Or should we say, an intelligent business move.

 

[mannyvel]

Well, having Intel is a nice hedge against China going ahead and invading or otherwise attacking Taiwan. Of course, the rest of the supply chain is still over there, but one thing at a time.

 

[CWallace]

Intel do they really have knowledge to build he apple silicon the failed to compete again the apple silicon both on raw power in single core and power consumptions

Intel will have (effectively) zero input into the design of the SoCs they will be fabricating for Apple. All Apple needs from Intel is employees who understand how to fabricate a wafer full of transistors and Intel has been doing that for decades for their own chips, so they have plenty of those folks available to loan some to doing the same for Apple.


I expect the initial runs will be older chips still being used in "legacy" products. The first "new" SoCs I could see them fabricating for Apple might be those used in the MacBook Neo and "E" family of iPhones along with newer generations of their N (network) and C (cellular modem) chips.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

We're always talking about the Trump administration pushing Apple towards Intel. But what about AMD? It's another American company manufacturing chips, isn't it? It could be another option on top of Intel.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Angstroms sound cooler than nanometers so I hope intel can find some work here.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

We're always talking about the Trump administration pushing Apple towards Intel. But what about AMD? It's another American company manufacturing chips, isn't it? It could be another option on top of Intel.

AMD doesn’t have fabs. Intel has fabs.

 

[CWallace]

We're always talking about the Trump administration pushing Apple towards Intel. But what about AMD? It's another American company manufacturing chips, isn't it? It could be another option on top of Intel.

AMD stopped fabricating their own chips a long time ago. They mostly use TSMC now.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

Perfect for the BASE Models
But not good for the Pros.

 

[Royksöpp]

"Lower-End" is not how I would describe an Apple product, even the lower spec models.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Angstroms sound cooler than nanometers so I hope intel can find some work here.

A word with "angst" in it doesn't sound particularly cool 😬

 

[bodonnell202]

We're always talking about the Trump administration pushing Apple towards Intel. But what about AMD? It's another American company manufacturing chips, isn't it? It could be another option on top of Intel.

AMD divested their chip manufacturing back in 2009 and now primarily uses TSMC to manufacture their chips. The spun off company still exists as Globalfoundries, however their latest manufacturing process is a 12 nm platform which wouldn't be suitable for recent Apple designed chips.

 

[Nicky G]

I have a feeling Apple will be needing domestic production capacity, perhaps more than may seem apparent at the moment.

I wish they were already further along that path honestly.

Yeah, if/when China invades Taiwan, the entire global technology supply chain is going to turn upside down. 😖 That in turn will crash most other industries.

May we live in interesting times… 😬

 

[Howard2k]

It'll be previous generation chips for devices like AppleTV, Smart Speaker, lower end devices.

 

[Nicky G]

Well, having Intel is a nice hedge against China going ahead and invading or otherwise attacking Taiwan. Of course, the rest of the supply chain is still over there, but one thing at a time.

Unfortunately, there’s no way other manufacturers can come close to making up for the loss in chip production capacity a Chinese invasion of Taiwan will bring about. I applaud these moves to diversify the supply chain, but overall it’s kind of a joke. If a possible war involves Japan and Korea (likely), well, that will reeeaaally screw things up.

 

[rexbinary]

Throw the bunnies a bone.