Apple May Tap Intel to Manufacture Future A-Series and M-Series Chips, Analysts Claim
Apple may be preparing to rekindle its relationship with Intel—but not in the way it once did. After abandoning Intel processors in favor of its own M-series silicon across Macs and desktops, Apple now appears close to striking a very different type of partnership with the chip giant.
This time, Intel won’t be designing anything. Instead, it will serve purely as a manufacturing partner. The move aligns with Apple’s long-term goal of reducing its reliance on TSMC, currently the exclusive fabricator of its A-series and M-series chips.
According to Jeff Pu of GF Securities, Apple is expected to finalize an agreement for Intel to produce a portion of the non-Pro A-series chips for iPhones starting in 2028. Intel’s contribution would initially represent only a small share of Apple’s overall chip output, with TSMC remaining the primary supplier for the foreseeable future.
This follows a separate prediction from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claimed last month that Intel could begin manufacturing Apple’s lowest-end M-series chips for Macs and iPads as early as mid-2027. Those chips would leverage Intel’s advanced 18A process, which is projected to be the first sub-2nm manufacturing node available in North America.
If these reports prove accurate, Intel could play a meaningful role in Apple’s long-term silicon strategy—marking a subtle but significant shift in the company’s supply chain diversification.
