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Tech & Science
Apple is in early talks with Intel to use its factories for chip production, though the company will continue designing its own processors.
Apple is exploring a renewed collaboration with Intel, but this time the focus is on manufacturing rather than bringing Intel processors back to Mac computers. According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, the two companies have reached a preliminary agreement that would allow Intel to produce some of Apple's custom-designed chips in the future, though negotiations remain in early stages and no final contract has been signed.
Reports indicate that Apple has no intention of abandoning its "Apple Silicon" strategy, which began in 2020 and fundamentally transformed the Mac lineup. The M-series processors have given the company greater control over performance, power efficiency, thermal management, and significant improvements in artificial intelligence tasks. Intel's potential role would be limited strictly to manufacturing, while Apple continues designing its own chips internally.
The new development appears primarily linked to supply chain challenges and surging demand for advanced chips, particularly amid the boom in AI technologies. Apple currently relies almost exclusively on TSMC to manufacture chips for iPhones, Macs, and iPads. However, immense pressure on semiconductor factories—especially from massive orders by companies like NVIDIA—has pushed Apple to seek additional alternatives to reduce risks and ensure production stability.
For Intel, securing Apple as a client for its factories would represent a major boost in its efforts to reclaim a position in the chip manufacturing market after years of decline against TSMC and Samsung. The company's current CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is restructuring the manufacturing division and investing heavily in new production technologies such as 14A, aiming to turn "Intel Foundry" into a genuine competitor in the semiconductor space.
For now, all current indicators confirm that Apple remains committed to Apple Silicon processors, and any potential cooperation with Intel revolves around manufacturing only—not a return to traditional x86 chips. Yet the mere reopening of collaboration between the two companies underscores the critical importance of chip factories today, especially amid intensifying global competition in AI and semiconductors.
