Apple and Intel may be inching toward a reunion, but not in the way some might instinctively fear.
According to multiple reports now lining up, Apple is preparing to tap Intel as a manufacturing partner for future chips, starting with lower-end iPhone models later this decade.
Analyst Jeff Pu has reaffirmed that Intel will begin producing chips for Apple’s non-Pro iPhones as early as 2028, adding more weight to a rumor that has quietly gained momentum over the past few months.
Intel enters Apple’s chip pipeline again, but as a foundry
In a new research note (via MacRumors), Pu says Intel has built a “solid external customers pipeline” for its upcoming 14A process. That is Intel’s 1.4nm-class manufacturing technology, and Apple is reportedly among the companies lined up to use it, alongside AMD and Nvidia.
Pu specifically points to potential order wins for Apple’s system-on-a-chip designs, not off-the-shelf Intel silicon. This distinction matters. Apple would continue to design its own iPhone and Mac chips in-house, just as it does today. Intel’s role would be limited to manufacturing, effectively joining TSMC as a second foundry partner rather than replacing it.
This also aligns with Apple’s broader strategy of reducing risk by diversifying its supply chain, especially as chipmaking grows more complex and geopolitically sensitive.
It is not a return to Intel Macs or iPhones
It is worth being very clear about what this is not. Apple is not going back to Intel-designed processors for the iPhone or the Mac. The Apple Silicon era is not ending, and the performance and efficiency gains Apple has achieved since leaving Intel’s CPU roadmap behind are not being undone.
Instead, this would mirror how Apple already operates in other parts of its supply chain. Apple controls the architecture, the performance targets, and the software integration. Intel would simply fabricate certain chips using its advanced manufacturing nodes, much like TSMC does today.
Macs could be part of the picture too
This potential partnership may not stop with the iPhone. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also reported that Intel could begin shipping Apple’s lowest-end M-series chip as early as 2027. That would likely be a base M7 chip destined for entry-level Macs or iPads, not flagship MacBook Pro models.
If true, this suggests Apple is testing Intel’s foundry capabilities with lower-risk products first. That approach would give Apple flexibility while allowing Intel to prove it can meet Apple’s famously strict quality, yield, and volume requirements.
Why this actually makes sense
From Apple’s perspective, relying entirely on TSMC has always carried some risk, even if the partnership has been extremely successful. Adding Intel as a secondary manufacturing partner gives Apple leverage, resilience, and potentially access to cutting-edge process nodes sooner than waiting for a single supplier.
For Intel, landing Apple as a foundry customer would be a massive credibility boost at a time when the company is aggressively trying to reinvent itself as a serious alternative to TSMC and Samsung in advanced chip manufacturing.
If this deal materializes, it would not be nostalgic. It would be strategic.
