Apple Considers Manufacturing Mac and iPad Processors with Intel Starting in 2027
Apple and Intel are heading towards a new partnership, marking an unexpected reunion after their split more than four years ago when Apple abandoned Intel processors in favor of its own M-series chips. This time, however, the reunion won't be with Intel as a processor designer, but rather as a potential manufacturer of Apple's future processors, according to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple Tests Intel's 2nm Manufacturing Process
According to the report, Apple has already signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Intel, granting it access to the design toolkit for the 18AP process, an advanced 2nm manufacturing technology. Under this agreement, Apple's engineering teams are testing the process with the aim of developing a new entry-level M-series chip, expected to be used in the MacBook Air and iPad Pro in the coming years.
The current 0.9.1 GA PDK design toolkit is a preliminary version, but sufficient to begin prototyping and design. The crucial PDK 1.0/1.1 is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2026, which will determine Intel's ability to compete with TSMC. If this process meets Apple's standards for performance, efficiency, and transistor density, the company will move to mass production of Intel's 18AP technology by mid- to late 2027.
Intel 18AP Technology
The 18AP technology belongs to the 18A family and is Intel's first 2nm architecture. It utilizes RibbonFET transistors with Gate-All-Around technology, along with a PowerVia architecture that delivers power across the back of the chip, enhancing performance and reducing power consumption.
With this move, Apple aims to diversify its supply chain and reduce its reliance on TSMC, currently its sole supplier of advanced processors, especially given the global challenges in the semiconductor industry and the push for increased manufacturing within the United States.
Intel Bets on Apple to Revive its Factories
For Intel, this potential collaboration represents a pivotal step in its plan to revitalize its manufacturing operations through its Intel Foundry Services arm. After years of setbacks, the company says production rates for its 18A technology are improving by 7% per month, ahead of the launch of its Panther Lake processors.
Intel hopes to reach financial breakeven by 2027, and Apple is seen as the customer who can demonstrate Intel's competitiveness once again. Kuo described Apple's joining as "a powerful demonstration of Intel's comeback," and said it could help the company attract customers currently considering TSMC technologies.
The final decision rests with Apple. Despite the optimism, everything remains contingent on the results of the upcoming PDK release. If Intel cannot meet Apple's stringent standards, the latter will continue to rely on TSMC N2P technology to produce the next generation of M chips. However, if the trials are successful, we may see the first Apple processors manufactured by Intel shipped inside MacBook Air and iPad devices starting in 2027, marking a pivotal moment that will redraw the decades-long relationship between two giants of technology.