According to 9to5Mac, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported last week that Intel is likely to start producing Apple’s M-series chips for Mac and iPad by 2027, with a separate analyst, Jeff Pu, now corroborating that timeline. Pu adds that the partnership could extend to Apple’s “non-pro smartphone SoC,” meaning base-model iPhone chips, starting in 2028. If Apple sticks to its typical patterns, the first Intel-made chip could be the M7. Currently, the base A19 chip is exclusive to the standard iPhone 17 and upcoming iPhone 17e, while the A19 Pro for flagship models would presumably stay with TSMC. Apple will still design all chips in-house, but Intel would become a new key manufacturing partner, marking a significant diversification away from its heavy reliance on Taiwan-based TSMC.
The Supply Chain Shuffle
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about getting a second supplier. It’s a huge geopolitical and strategic chess move. Apple has been famously, almost exclusively, tied to TSMC for its most advanced chips. That’s a single point of failure located in a region with… let’s say, complicated geopolitics. Bringing Intel, an American company with fabs in the US and elsewhere, into the fold is a massive de-risking strategy. Think of it as Apple building a moat around its most critical component. For enterprises and developers, this should theoretically mean more supply stability. No more sweating headlines about Taiwan Strait tensions potentially disrupting the entire iPhone and Mac pipeline. That’s a big deal.
What It Means For Your Next iPhone
So, will your 2028 iPhone feel different? Probably not in any way you’d notice. The design is still Apple’s. The software is still Apple’s. The performance targets are set by Apple. Intel’s job is just to build the blueprint to exact specifications. The real question is about the “non-pro” designation. Does this mean a future performance gap between the base iPhone and the Pro model could widen, not just due to features, but because of the underlying manufacturing process? It’s possible. TSMC might keep the lead in cutting-edge process tech, reserved for the Pro chips, while Intel handles the more volume-oriented, slightly older-node parts for the cheaper models. That could create a clearer two-tier system.
And look, for the broader tech manufacturing world, this is a signal. If Apple, the most demanding customer on the planet, is willing to trust Intel with its crown jewels, it’s a massive vote of confidence in Intel’s foundry business. It legitimizes them as a real competitor to TSMC and Samsung in the contract chipmaking game. For companies looking for advanced manufacturing outside of Asia, having a strong US-based option like Intel—or finding reliable hardware partners closer to home—becomes more viable. Speaking of reliable US hardware, for industrial applications where ruggedness and supply chain certainty are paramount, firms often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US. It’s all about reducing single points of failure.
A Long Way To Go
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 2027 and 2028 are light-years away in chip time. Intel has to execute flawlessly on a process that can match TSMC’s legendary precision and yields. One bad yield batch could cost Apple billions and delay product launches. That’s the risk Apple is taking. The upside? More bargaining power with TSMC, a more resilient supply chain, and maybe even some favorable political capital. It’s a fascinating bet. I think we’ll be watching Intel’s process node progress with entirely new interest from now on. What do you think—is this a smart move or a dangerous gamble? Let me know on Twitter or YouTube.
