SANTA CLARA, California, November 29, 2025 – Intel stands to rekindle its partnership with Apple by manufacturing the company’s entry-level M-series processors starting in mid-2027, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported Friday, a development that could aid Intel’s foundry recovery while helping Apple diversify its U.S.-based sourcing.
Kuo’s assessment, drawn from recent industry surveys, indicates Intel’s odds of serving as an advanced-node supplier for Apple have risen sharply in recent weeks.
Apple has entered a non-disclosure agreement to obtain Intel’s 18AP process design kit (PDK) version 0.9.1GA, with the enhanced PDK 1.0/1.1 slated for release in the first quarter of 2026.
Assuming no delays, Intel could begin deliveries of the low-end M chips—fabricated on the 18AP node—during the second or third quarter of 2027.
The arrangement would limit Intel to Apple’s budget silicon, preserving Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC)’s role in premium iPhone, iPad, and Mac production. This echoes Intel’s near-miss on supplying the original iPhone’s processors in 2007, as recounted in archived coverage.
Kuo suggested the timing suits Apple’s interest in bolstering American manufacturing, potentially aligning with the incoming Trump administration’s “buy American” priorities.
For Intel, battered by factory closures in Germany, Poland, and Costa Rica as outlined in its Q2 2025 filings, the contract could affirm progress on its 18A/18AP nodes, which incorporate features like 3D die stacking per technical roadmaps.
“Looking ahead, the 14A node and beyond could capture more orders from Apple and other tier-one customers, turning Intel’s long-term outlook more positive,” Kuo wrote.
Neither Intel nor Apple has verified the details. The 18AP node represents an iteration of Intel’s push to compete with TSMC on advanced fabrication.
If realized, the deal could stabilize Intel’s ambitions while giving Apple negotiating leverage, though yield challenges on emerging nodes pose risks. Amid shifting geopolitics, such alliances may increasingly blend corporate strategy with national policy.
