In a surprising turn of events, Apple and Intel have reportedly come to a preliminary agreement for Intel to manufacture some of the chips that will power future Apple devices. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the two tech giants have spent more than a year in detailed negotiations to finalize this partnership.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Intel’s foundry business, as the company has been striving to enhance its manufacturing capabilities to compete with industry giants like TSMC. By regaining Apple as a client, Intel solidifies its position as a major player in the high-end chipmaking sector.
Following this news, Intel’s stock experienced a 14% increase, indicating investor confidence in this new venture. Intel has already secured important partnerships with other tech leaders, such as producing processors for Elon Musk’s AI and robotics projects for Tesla and SpaceX.
While the specific products involved in this agreement were not disclosed in the WSJ report, industry insider Max Weinbach has suggested that it could include chips like the A21 base chip for the upcoming iPhone 19 and 19e, or the next generation of Mac silicon such as the M7 or M8 base chips. It is also possible that Intel will be responsible for manufacturing specific components, like the CPU tile, for Apple’s chiplet-based silicon. This move represents a significant diversification of Apple’s supply chain, which has heavily relied on Samsung and TSMC since parting ways with Intel in the past.
The semiconductor industry is undergoing a transformation, prompting Apple to explore partnerships with both Intel and Samsung for producing main processors. This strategic decision likely aims to reduce dependence on a single manufacturer and secure additional capacity for its expanding product lineup.
If this collaboration comes to fruition, it could have a profound impact on the mobile and desktop computing landscape. Official confirmation of this deal is still pending, leaving industry observers eager to see how this partnership will unfold.