Apple returning to Intel?

Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in the coming years. A recent rumor suggests that this partnership might extend to the iPhone.

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In a research note shared with investment firm GF Securities this week, analyst Jeff Pu and his colleagues expressed their expectation that Intel will reach a supply agreement with Apple for at least some non-professional iPhone chips starting in 2028.

According to Pu, these non-professional iPhone chips would be manufactured using Intel’s upcoming 14A process.

The research note did not provide any further details about these potential plans. However, based on the stated timeframe, Intel could begin supplying Apple with the A22 chip for devices like the “iPhone 20” and “iPhone 20e” in approximately three years.

Importantly, there is no indication that Intel would be involved in designing the iPhone chips. Its involvement is expected to be limited to fabrication. Apple would continue to design iPhone chips, while Intel would start handling a smaller percentage of manufacturing alongside Apple’s primary chipmaker, TSMC.

Last month, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that Intel would begin shipping Apple’s lowest-end M-series chip for select Mac and iPad models as early as mid-2027. For this, Kuo mentioned that Apple plans to utilize Intel’s 18A process, which is the “earliest available sub-2nm advanced node manufactured in North America.”

Intel supplying Apple-designed, Arm-based chips would be a departure from the era of Intel-based Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture.

Apple reaching a chip supply agreement with Intel would enhance its reliance on an American manufacturing company and contribute to the diversification of its supply chain.

Intel had previously supplied Apple with cellular modems for certain iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.

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Dan Uff

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