Apple and Intel have a long, complicated history. Apple spent more than a decade building its Macs around Intel processors, but everything shifted when the company introduced its own Apple Silicon chips, with the first being the Apple M1. The company left the x86 architecture for the ARM architecture. Interestingly, the switch brought huge gains in performance and efficiency for Apple. It also helped the company to create a seamless ecosystem since both Macs and iPhones shared the same architecture. However, Intel was the big loser here. The company lost a big client and had to rethink some of its strategies. Well, like an old saying: What goes around, comes around. Now, Apple is reportedly turning to Intel Foundry for future chip manufacturing.
Apple M7 Could Use Intel’s N18AP Manufacturing Process
Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some interesting updates about the future of Apple’s M-series chips. According to him, the “base” chip in the next generation will actually be manufactured by Intel Foundry. The exact process hasn’t been confirmed, but Kuo believes it could be Intel’s 18AP node. This one is expected to go into full production in 2027. This lines up with earlier reports suggesting both Apple and Nvidia had been eyeing Intel Foundry for future projects.
Kuo’s note also hints that Apple will still rely on TSMC for its high-end chips. With that in mind, it feels pretty reasonable to assume that only the standard Apple M7 will come from Intel’s 18AP process, while the M7 Pro and M7 Max will likely stick with TSMC’s N2P or A18 nodes. The regular M7 is expected to power upcoming iPad models, the next MacBook Air refresh, and possibly future revisions of the Vision Pro.
Intel Will Get An Important Client
If this turns out to be accurate, the Apple M7 would become the first chip in the lineup that completely skips TSMC. It’s still too early to guess how it will perform in the real world. We’ll get a clearer picture once consumer products using Intel 18A, such as Panther Lake, start hitting the market next year. Still, it’s a major win for Intel Foundry. Landing a client as big as Apple could open the door for other major players like Qualcomm to follow the same path. If this partnership sticks, it could become the comeback move Intel has been waiting for and a major turning point for the company’s foundry ambitions.
Quick Summary:
- Apple relied on Intel processors for over a decade before switching to its own Apple Silicon.
- The move to ARM brought major boosts in performance, efficiency, and ecosystem integration.
- Intel lost a major client and was forced to rethink its strategy.
- New reports say Apple may use Intel’s 18AP process for the base M7 chip.
- M7 Pro and M7 Max will likely stay with TSMC’s advanced nodes.
- If confirmed, Apple would become a key client for Intel Foundry again.
- The partnership could mark Intel’s biggest comeback opportunity in years.
Source from Gizchina
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