Apple is evaluating a major change in its silicon production strategy, positioning Intel as a potential manufacturing partner for upcoming generations of M-series and A-series chips. The shift would introduce a second major foundry alongside TSMC, giving Apple a broader base for producing processors used across Macs, iPads and entry-level iPhones.
Intel’s participation could begin around 2027, aligning with the expected introduction of a new M-series generation for Mac and iPad. Apple continues to design its chips internally, and this development focuses solely on fabrication, expanding the number of companies responsible for bringing Apple Silicon to life. By distributing production, Apple would gain more flexibility as demand grows across devices that rely heavily on custom processors.
How Intel Could Fit Into Apple’s Silicon Roadmap
The first Intel-made Apple Silicon is expected to appear in future M-series chips, potentially beginning with the class of processors set for the 2027 product cycle. Apple’s internal development rhythm places its next major Mac and iPad chip several years ahead of release, allowing time for fabrication changes to settle into the broader supply chain.
A follow-on phase would extend manufacturing to iPhone processors. The plan positions Intel to produce the standard A-series chip used in entry-level models beginning in 2028. This line currently corresponds to the A19 generation powering the iPhone 17 and the upcoming iPhone 17e. Higher-end devices, which rely on Pro-series chips with more advanced performance characteristics, are expected to remain under TSMC’s production.
Integrating Intel into Apple’s roadmap would mark one of the largest shifts in the company’s processor manufacturing approach since the introduction of Apple Silicon. It reflects a long-term strategy that keeps chip design in Cupertino while refining how fabrication is divided across global partners.
What This Means for Apple’s Broader Chip Strategy
Apple’s in-house design teams continue shaping the architecture, efficiency goals and overall capabilities of each new M- and A-series generation. Expanding fabrication partners does not alter that identity; instead, it supports a model where Apple benefits from multiple advanced manufacturing technologies as they become available.
TSMC remains central to Apple Silicon, particularly for Pro-level chips and high-efficiency architectures designed for flagship devices. Bringing Intel into the mix gives Apple added resilience and capacity during a period when demand for cutting-edge process nodes continues to rise across the industry.
This realignment also marks a significant moment for Intel as it grows its foundry business. Manufacturing Apple’s mainstream iPhone and Mac chips would position Intel as a key player in a segment historically dominated by Asia-based foundries. For Apple, the partnership strengthens long-term planning as device categories expand and silicon plays an even larger role in defining user experience.
