The relationship between Apple and Intel This could take a turn that seemed unlikely a few years ago: if the predictions of several analysts come true, Intel will begin manufacturing some of the chips of future non-Pro iPhonesStarting around 2028, Apple would retain full control of its processor design, but would hand over much of the industrial work that is currently handled almost entirely by TSMC to Intel.
This move fits with Apple's strategy of diversify manufacturing of its silicon and reduce dependence on a single partner, while leveraging Intel's advances in processes such as 18A-P and 14AFor users in Spain and the rest of Europe, the change could translate into more stable stock, more homogeneous launches with the United States, and a supply chain somewhat less exposed to geopolitical shocks.
Intel positions itself to manufacture iPhone chips
According to various research reports cited by outlets such as MacRumors and PhoneArena, Intel would have positioned itself as priority candidate to produce some of Apple's SoCs intended for non-Pro iPhones. The roadmap indicates that, starting in 2028, the company will manufacture the Apple A22, a chip designed for models like the iPhone 20 and the iPhone 20e, focused on the wider range of the catalog.
In this scenario, Apple would continue to handle all the internal design of the chip—architecture, cores, GPU, AI engines, and other logical blocks—while Intel would take over physical production of the wafers and part of the packaging. In other words, it's not a return to the old x86 processors in Macs, but a purely foundry alliance similar to the one Apple has maintained for years with TSMC.
Reports indicate that the agreement would primarily affect the iPhones that do not have the Pro nameApple traditionally uses slightly less advanced nodes than in its more expensive ranges. The Pro models, however, would continue to use the most advanced lithography available, presumably with TSMC as the main supplier for the highest-performing A-series chips.
This distribution would allow Apple to have a dual manufacturing source For the same type of product: some of the chips would come from TSMC and some from Intel, all under the same design created in Cupertino. On the shelf, the iPhones would look identical and share specifications, although internally the silicon could come from different factories.
From node 18A-P to the jump to 14A: Intel's technological bet
The technical basis for this approach lies in Intel's progress with its advanced processes. On the one hand, several analyses highlight the advancement of the node Intel 18A-P, an optimized version of the 18A that combines efficiency, scalability, and compatibility with advanced packaging. This node is expected to produce a first batch of low-end M chips for Mac and iPad around 2027, as a trial by fire for Apple.
Apple would have signed confidentiality agreements with Intel and would have already received the first ones design kits (PDK) The 18A-P step is essential for their engineering teams to begin adapting and validating future designs based on this process. From there, test batches, samples, and, if everything works out, volume shipments for commercial products would follow.
In parallel, the big bet for non-Pro iPhones would be the node Intel 14A, considered by many to be the true generational leap within the company's roadmap. According to Intel's internal documentation, the 14A should be released in mass production in 2027, just in time to manufacture the A22 chips that would power the iPhones of 2028.
This 14A process relies on technologies such as transistors RibbonFET with wrap-around door and the rear-side power supply networks (BSPDN), which have already proven their potential in the 18A and will continue to improve in this new version. Furthermore, it will be Intel's first mainstream node to utilize ASML's High-NA numerical aperture optics, a key step to compete head-to-head with the most advanced nodes from TSMC and Samsung Foundry.
Foveros Direct and 3D packaging for future iPhones
One particularly relevant aspect for Apple is that the 18A-P node will be Intel's first fully compatible with Foveros Direct, a 3D hybrid bonding technology that allows chiplets to be stacked with greater density and with much lower electrical resistance than traditional solutions.
This type of packaging opens the door to more flexible configurations In terms of thermal management, voltage distribution, and energy efficiency—key factors for mobile devices where every milliwatt counts—these techniques can make all the difference for non-Pro iPhones, where the focus is on delivering good performance without skyrocketing power consumption or costs.
The combination of nodes like the 18A-P or 14A with Foveros Direct aligns with Apple's philosophy of maximizing the balance between power and battery life, especially in high-volume models. It's reasonable to assume the company will first utilize these capabilities in entry-level M-series chips for Macs and iPads, and once their performance has been verified, will transfer them to the A-series SoCs intended for the iPhone.
By working with stacked chiplets and more efficient power grids, Apple could better fine-tune the processor's response to different workloads, from light messaging and social media tasks to extended gaming sessions, trying to maintain more controlled temperatures and fewer consumption peaks.
Calendar: From iPhone 20 to iPhone 21 and beyond
Regarding dates, analysts point to a relatively clear timeline. The generation expected in 2027 would be known as iPhone 20, in reference to the 20th anniversary of the first iPhone launched in 2007. A year later, the 2028 family would be named iPhone 21And that's where the shift of part of the chip production towards Intel would be consolidated.
Some reports place the Apple A22 as the heart of those iPhone 20e The more affordable option, manufactured on the 14A by Intel, would be a more advanced variant, the hypothetical A22 Pro for the 2028 Pro or Pro Max models, which would still be produced by TSMC on its A16 node. This approach would allow Apple to maintain the very latest technology with its Taiwanese partner, while also testing Intel on high-volume but somewhat less demanding products.
Meanwhile, before reaching the iPhone market, Intel would have to prove its mettle with its low-end M-series chips. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has already suggested that Intel Foundry could be responsible for the future. M7 basic for some MacBook Air and iPad Pro models starting in 2027, using node 18A. This would serve as a dress rehearsal for the mobile SoCs that will eventually power non-Pro iPhones.
In this context, manufacturing yields are critical. Estimates indicate that process 18A has reached yields of 60-65% around November, with the goal of reaching 70% before the end of 2025. If Intel manages to consolidate these figures or improve them in 14, it will be in a competitive position to take a share of Apple's orders away from TSMC.
Impact for Europe and Spain: more margin and fewer stock scares
This entire move has a clear implication for European markets, including Spain. Apple's decision to also rely on Intel is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on Asian suppliers and distribute production among different regions, with the United States gaining ground and Europe trying to attract its share of the pie.
Although the chips for the non-Pro iPhones would initially be manufactured in Intel plants in US territoryThe company is making significant investments in Europe, with projects in countries such as Germany and Ireland. In the medium term, some of the production associated with clients like Apple could be geographically relocated closer to the European market, which would help reduce logistics times and strengthen supply.
From the perspective of the Spanish user, the most visible effect could be a greater stability in availability of certain entry-level iPhone, iPad, or Mac models. The experience of recent years, with delays and shortages due to the semiconductor crisis, has shown that relying on a single geographic region is risky. With two large foundries sharing the work, Apple will have more flexibility to react to specific problems.
For distributors and retail chains in Spain, this is also significant news: having dual manufacturing origins for the same chip reduces the risk of running out of product during key campaigns such as back-to-school or Christmas. Furthermore, it could favor more aligned launch windows between the United States and Europe, avoiding situations where certain configurations arrive later to our market.
Relationship with TSMC and background with Intel
Despite this shift, TSMC will remain an essential partner for Apple. The idea is not to completely replace the Taiwanese manufacturer, but distribute the workload and minimize risks. The most likely plan is for TSMC to continue manufacturing the most advanced chips—such as the A-series Pro models and the Pro/Max/Ultra variants of the M family—while Intel takes over some of the low-end and mid-range production.
Apple has experimented with this approach in the past. The company once even distributed the manufacturing of some chips among TSMC and SamsungThis strategy ultimately generated controversy with the well-known "chipgate" episode when slight differences in performance were detected between units using silicon from each supplier. That experience explains why Apple can now be especially careful when validating and standardizing the performance of chips manufactured by Intel and TSMC.
As for Intel, this isn't the first time it has entered the iPhone ecosystem. The company provided 4G modems for models like the iPhone 7 through the iPhone 11, before Apple once again relied on Qualcomm to try and develop its own 5G modem. That period didn't end particularly well for Intel, but now the relationship is viewed from a different perspective: as neutral foundry that manufactures chips designed by third parties.
For Intel, adding Apple as a customer for its foundry business would be a significant boost to its strategy of competing with TSMC in the manufacturing of advanced nodesIf the experiment with the low-end M-series chips and the A-series chips for non-Pro iPhones works, other SoC designers are likely to consider Intel a more serious alternative for their next generations of products.
What does this mean for someone who is going to buy an iPhone or a Mac?
For someone thinking of buying an iPhone or a Mac in Spain in the next year or two, this potential agreement It doesn't change much in the short termCurrent models and those launched well into 2027 will continue to depend, for the most part, on TSMC production, with Intel still fine-tuning its processes and validating test M chips.
From the second half of this decade onward, some indirect effects could begin to be noticeable. Having two foundries for the same type of processor allows Apple to better mitigate potential production bottlenecksThis reduces the likelihood of price increases due to a lack of stock or long delivery times for new releases.
In terms of price, Apple will try to maintain a a coherent policy between the United States and EuropeAs before, although minor differences due to taxes, tariffs, and logistical costs will continue, the origin of the chip—TSMC or Intel—should not be directly reflected in the retail price for consumers.
Another important point is long-term support. Everything indicates that Apple will guarantee it. iOS, iPadOS, and macOS update cycle for devices, regardless of who manufactures the chip. It's reasonable that if a model is sold under the same brand name, it should receive the same treatment regarding new software versions and security patches.
For the average user, the chip's origin will probably go unnoticed; for those who thoroughly analyze performance, temperatures, or battery life, it can be interesting to know if their iPhone uses a SoC from Intel or TSMC factoriesIn any case, if Apple does its homework, the practical differences should be minimal.
A new role for Intel in the Apple ecosystem
If this plan comes to fruition, Intel will go from being the former supplier of x86 CPUs for Macs to becoming a key industrial partner in the manufacture of chips designed by Apple. It's a significant role change: it's no longer about competing with Apple Silicon, but about putting their factories at the service of the Cupertino company's own silicon strategy.
For Apple, adding Intel to the equation means gaining leverage in its negotiations with TSMC and having a extra insurance against unforeseen events in the supply chain. Furthermore, it aligns with US political pressure to bolster domestic semiconductor production and with Europe's interest in attracting more investment in this sector.
It is important to remember that everything known so far comes from analyst reports and leaksNot official announcements. Deadlines can shift, nodes can change (from 18A-P to 14A, for example), and some plans might not go beyond the planning stage if the technical results or costs don't meet the expectations of any of the parties.
Even with these precautions, the emerging scenario is one of Apple focused on maintaining absolute control over the design of its processors while opening the door for Intel to manufacture some of them, starting with the low-end M-series chips and, shortly after, the A-series SoCs for non-Pro iPhones. For users in Spain and the rest of Europe, this will translate, if everything goes as planned, into greater device availability and a somewhat more robust supply chain, with entry-level iPhone, iPad and Mac whose core will still be a Cupertino design, but produced on Intel's manufacturing lines.
