What not so long ago sounded almost like science fiction is very close to becoming a reality: Intel will once again be present in Macs and iPadsHowever, its role will be completely different from the pre-Apple Silicon era. Instead of supplying its own x86 processors, the Santa Clara company will manufacture a portion of the chips created by Apple for its upcoming MacBook Air and iPad Pro. plan for Intel to produce Apple Silicon.
Several supply chain reports, with the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo At the forefront, they point out that Apple has given the green light to a plan for Intel to produce entry-level Apple Silicon chips. Starting in the second half of this decade. The move fits with Apple's strategy to diversify suppliers and with Intel's attempt to relaunch its advanced foundry business in a market dominated by TSMC and Samsung.
From the x86 marriage to the reunion as a foundry
For more than a decade, Macs relied on Intel processors based on x86 architectureuntil 2020 when Apple completed its transition to Apple Silicon with Arm cores designed in CupertinoThat seemed to put an end to Intel's involvement in the brand's computers, but the latest leaks describe an unexpected returnIntel would reappear in Macs and iPads, though strictly as a manufacturer.
The key is that Intel will not be involved in the design or architecture of the chips.All development will remain in the hands of Apple's teams, who will continue creating their own Arm SoCs optimized for macOS and iPadOS. The American company will operate as a pure foundry, in a role similar to that of TSMC today: providing factories, cutting-edge manufacturing processes, and production capacity, but without dictating the product's technical direction.
This means that in a few years we will see it again MacBook Air and iPad Pro with chips physically produced in Intel plantsBut they will still be true Apple Silicon. There will be no going back to x86 architecture or a return to the old power consumption and temperature problems of the previous era: they will be Apple designs manufactured on advanced Intel nodes.
The change is especially relevant in markets such as Spain and the rest of Europewhere the MacBook Air and professional-grade iPads have established themselves as very popular options among both individuals and in educational and professional environments. Apple's strengthening of its chip manufacturing network could directly impact the availability and price stability in these regions.
Which chips will Intel manufacture and what role will TSMC play?
The various reports agree that the alliance will focus on the entry-level versions of the future M6 or M7 familiesThat is, the basic variants of these SoCs, intended for high-volume devices such as the MacBook Air, certain iPad Pro models, and even possible more modest iPad Air or desktop computers.
In this scheme, The most powerful ranges —Pro, Max and Ultra— will continue to be handled by TSMCThe Taiwanese foundry will continue manufacturing chips with the highest performance and complexity requirements, such as those for the MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, as well as SoCs for the iPhone. Intel will retain the models where the balance between cost, efficiency, and production capacity is more important than squeezing every last milligram of maximum performance.
The agreement, therefore, It is not intended to replace the Taiwanese foundryRather, it points to a hybrid model where Apple distributes the workload according to the chip type, the manufacturing node, and the priorities of each product range. In fact, some forecasts suggest that The global volume of low-end M-chips could even decrease if Apple decides to launch laptops based on iPhone-derived SoCs starting in 2026.
For TSMC, the direct impact would be limited: would maintain the production of Apple's most advanced designs and would remain the primary supplier at the high end of the catalog. However, Intel's entry introduces a new competitive factor which can push all foundries to refine costs, deadlines and technological innovation.
Intel 18A: the 2nm node that will be used to manufacture Apple Silicon
One of the most striking aspects of the agreement is the technology chosen. According to Ming-Chi Kuo and other supply chain sources, Intel will use its most advanced manufacturing process, known as Intel 18A (and its variant 18A-P), equivalent to a node of ones 2 nanometersIt is the same process with which the company plans to power its upcoming Panther Lake families and future generations of Core Ultra processors.
To be able to design on this node, Apple would have already shut down confidentiality agreements with Intel which gives them early access to preliminary versions of the 18A process development kit (PDK). The stable version of that PDK is expected in early 2026, which would allow Cupertino engineers to fine-tune the new M chips on real Intel node parameters before volume production begins.
Industry estimates suggest a potential annual volume of between 15 and 20 million M chips manufactured by Intel for AppleThis amount would be sufficient to cover a very significant part of the demand for mid-range and entry-level laptops and tablets, freeing TSMC from some of that burden and allowing Apple to maneuver more flexibly in its launches.
Intel manufacturing Arm-based hardware also represents a symbolic shift for the company: Historically, it has focused almost its entire business on x86 architecture., and producing large volumes of Arm chips designed by third parties marks a change in mindset towards a more open foundry model.
Expected timeline: from the current M3 to the possible M6 and M7 manufactured by Intel
To understand when this change might be noticeable, it's helpful to look at Apple Silicon's release schedule. The M3 debuted in October 2023, The M4 arrived in May 2024 And rumors place the M5 around 2025. With this pace, it's reasonable to project an M6 by 2026 or with a M7 between the end of 2027 and the beginning of 2028provided Apple maintains its current cycle.
It is within this timeframe that Intel's role fits in. Kuo argues that the first Apple Silicon produced in Intel factories They could start going offline from the second quarter of 2027provided there are no significant delays in either the development of node 18A or Apple's design timelines.
This timeline would allow the Cupertino company synchronize the arrival of the new chips with their usual renewal cycles of Mac and iPad. In the European market, this would mean that MacBook Airs and certain iPads sold from the end of 2027 could integrate entry-level M processors designed by Apple but manufactured by Intel, presumably in plants located in the United States, such as the Fab 52 of Arizona.
Meanwhile, some analysts are considering the possibility that Apple will launch a MacBook with a chip derived from the iPhone Starting in 2026. This move would reduce pressure on the entry-level M range and explain why order volumes for less powerful models could be lower compared to previous generations.
Why Apple is looking for a second supplier besides TSMC
So far, TSMC has been the exclusive supplier of Apple's main chipsThis applies to both the A series for iPhone and the M series for Mac and iPad. This single-partner model simplifies technical coordination, but also concentrates too much responsibility on a single actor in a context of geopolitical tensions, bottlenecks, and high demand for leading nodes.
Incorporating Intel as an alternative foundry allows Apple diversify your semiconductor supply chain without abandoning TSMC's expertise. The idea is not to replace the Taiwanese foundry, but to distribute the workload according to the type of chip, the complexity of the design, and the priority of each product.
In practice, this mixed approach helps to reduce dependence on a single point of failure in a component as critical as the processor. In crisis scenarios—trade tensions, natural disasters, or regional instability—having manufacturing capacity in different geographical locations becomes a top-tier strategic advantage.
For the average user in Spain or any European country, all this translates into something much more tangible: less risk of stockouts and a more stable product supplyespecially during high-demand campaigns such as "back to school", Christmas or Black Friday, where the availability of MacBook and iPad is often put to the test.
What Intel gains: a boost to its foundry business and a change in role
For Intel, getting Apple to entrust it with part of the production of the M chips means a huge boost to Intel Foundry ServicesThe division with which it intends to compete head-to-head with TSMC and Samsung in contract manufacturing. In recent years, the company has had serious difficulties keeping up with leading nodes, falling behind its Asian rivals.
An agreement of this magnitude would send a clear message to the market: Its 2nm Intel 18A process is ready for top-tier customersFurthermore, manufacturing Apple Silicon based on Arm implies that Intel will mass-produce chips on an architecture other than x86, reinforcing its transition to a more diversified business model.
If the collaboration is consolidated, it is very likely that other companies in the sector begin to consider Intel as a real option for their advanced designs. Firms like Nvidia, AMD, or custom chip developers—including European projects—could see this agreement as proof that Intel can handle complex production on cutting-edge nodes.
In terms of image, going from being the supplier that Apple distanced itself from in 2020 to becoming one of the pillars of the manufacturing of their future generations of processors It would be a significant narrative shift for Intel within the global technology industry.
Political and geostrategic dimension of the agreement
Beyond the purely technical aspects, the potential agreement between Apple and Intel has a clear political interpretation. The United States has been strongly promoting the manufacture of advanced semiconductors within its own territory for years., supporting the construction of new factories with public funds and offering tax incentives to strategic projects such as Intel's in Arizona.
For Apple, shifting a significant portion of its M-chip production to US plants allows align with Washington's technological reindustrialization agendaThe company can present this decision as a sign of commitment to "Made in America," something that carries weight in the internal political debate and in its relations with future administrations.
This element becomes more important when we consider that Apple is usually under constant regulatory and political scrutinyBeing able to claim that a crucial part of their products—the silicon that powers them—is manufactured on American soil adds another argument in their favor when discussing regulations, tariffs, or potential trade restrictions.
Meanwhile Europe is watching these developments as it tries to strengthen its own semiconductor industry through initiatives such as the European Chips Act. The fact that a large part of the production of leading nodes continues to be concentrated in the United States and Asia underscores the challenge the European Union faces in attracting truly leading process manufacturing facilities to its territory.
Impact on users in Spain and the rest of Europe
From the perspective of a user in Spain, all this industrial tangle may sound distant, but It affects very specific everyday issuesThe availability of models like the MacBook Air or iPad Pro in large stores, authorized retailers, and online shops depends directly on Apple having a guaranteed stable supply of chips.
If Intel is able to supply without any problems the entry-level and mid-range M processorsWith more predictable delivery times, product launches are more likely to arrive with sufficient stock, reducing waiting lists and inventory shortages at critical times. In European universities, businesses, and public administrations, more predictable delivery times can make all the difference when planning equipment upgrades.
Price is another factor to watch closely. It's still too early to know if Manufacturing some of the chips with Intel will lower unit costs for Apple.However, having two partners with advanced processes should strengthen their negotiating position. The final effect on the RRP It will depend on how Apple decides to manage its margins and the economic situation in Europe in the coming years.
It doesn't seem reasonable to expect an immediate revolution in Mac and iPad prices from this simple casting change, although it could help. avoid sharp price increases linked to semiconductor shortages, as has been seen in other sectors when chip production has not been able to keep up with demand.
In any case, the use of nodes like Intel 18A guarantees that European users will continue to have access to devices with notable improvements in performance and energy efficiencyRegardless of whether the chip came from a TSMC wafer or an Intel plant, as long as Apple maintains its usual level of rigor.
Everything points to the possible agreement by which Intel will manufacture some of the future Apple Silicon chips for MacBook Air and iPad Pro starting in 2027. It could discreetly reshape the global semiconductor manufacturing map: Apple would gain room to maneuver and security in its supply chain, Intel would reinforce its commitment to founding leading nodes, and TSMC would retain its position in the most advanced range, while users in Spain and the rest of Europe would notice above all a more predictable supply of Macs and iPads, with fewer stock shocks and price evolution less conditioned by production tensions.
