Apple has turned to Intel for chip manufacturing, driven by constraints at TSMC, and is reportedly set to produce two chips utilizing the 18A-P and 14A process technologies.
Apple’s Next-Gen MacBook & iPhone Chips to be Fabricated by Intel Using 18A-P & 14A Process Technologies
Recent disclosures suggest that Apple has inked a preliminary chipmaking agreement with Intel, harnessing the latter’s Foundry business for chip production.
This arrangement, reportedly formalized in December 2025 according to GF Holdings, marks Apple’s return to Intel after terminating their previous collaborations in 2023.
From GFHK Monthly Call: Apple and Intel already signed an agreement in December 2025. The M7 chip will use Intel 18A-P and is expected to enter production by the end of 2027, while the smartphone chip will use Intel 14A and is expected to enter production by the end of 2028.…
— Jukan (@jukan05) May 13, 2026
Apple has been dependent on TSMC for its MacBook and iPhone chip supply. However, the burgeoning AI landscape has severely burdened TSMC, inundating it with chip orders from various tech giants and creating critical supply shortages.
Consequently, TSMC’s inability to satisfy Apple’s demands has led to cost escalations across multiple Apple products.
Moreover, The Wall Street Journal reports that former President Donald J. Trump actively encouraged Apple to engage with Intel, stating his preference for the company.
As the U.S. government’s “Made in America” initiative gains traction, Apple finds itself navigating TSMC’s bottleneck while proceeding with its partnership with Intel for forthcoming chip orders.
According to sources familiar with the situation, President Trump personally lobbied for Intel in a White House meeting with Tim Cook.
“I like Intel,” President Trump remarked in January, noting that the government had profited significantly from its partnership with Intel, attracting substantial collaborators to the tech firm.
The Wall Street Journal
As reported during a monthly call by GFHK, Apple intends to utilize Intel’s Foundries for two distinct chips.
Among them is the anticipated Apple M7, slated for fabrication using the 18A-P process technology, with mass production expected to commence by the end of 2027. This chip is expected to power Apple’s MacBook laptops.
The second chip in the pipeline is rumored to be the A21 smartphone chip, which is expected to leverage Intel’s 14A process technology and is anticipated to enter mass production by late 2028.
With the surging demand for Apple’s “A” series chips in the PC consumer sector—exemplified by the success of the MacBook Neo—Intel’s production of this chip places it in direct competition with its own PC initiatives.
In response to the fierce competition posed by the MacBook Neo, Intel is intensifying its efforts, collaborating with Google on Googlebook laptops, while concurrently developing its own chips to challenge the A18-powered MacBook Neo.
This partnership is poised to be mutually beneficial: Apple will secure essential chip production capacity, while Intel will gain a significant client, thereby enhancing the appeal of its Foundry capabilities to other potential customers.
Source link: Wccftech.com.
