What was considered completely out of the question a few years ago is about to materialize: Intel will once again be present in Macs and iPadsHowever, it will play a very different role than before the transition to Apple Silicon. This time, it won't be supplying its own x86 processors, but will instead act as a factory for some of the chips designed by Apple.
Various supply chain reports, led by the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, point to Apple has reached an agreement with Intel to manufacture the low-end M-series processors. intended for the future MacBook Air and iPad Pro modelsProduction will rely on Intel's advanced 18A process, a 2-nanometer equivalent node already used in the company's new Core Ultra processors.
What chips will Intel manufacture and what role will Apple play?
According to available leaks, Apple has chosen Intel as its foundry for the entry-level versions of the next generations of Apple Silicon, which many analysts place in families such as the hypothetical M6 or M7These chips would be reserved for high-volume, more affordable devices, especially those... MacBook Air and the models of iPad Pro and, in some cases, other mid-range iPads.
This means that Future MacBook Air and iPad Pro models will continue to use Apple Silicon With the same integration approach we're familiar with, but some of those chips will have been physically manufactured in Intel's plants. There will be no return to the x86 architecture or radical software changes; the difference will lie in who prints the silicon, not in how it's designed.
The estimates that Ming-Chi Kuo uses suggest volumes of between 15 and 20 million units per year These low-end processors would cover a significant portion of the demand for entry-level laptops and tablets. Even so, in absolute terms, it's considered a moderate share of Apple's massive annual chip production.
Intel 18A: the 2nm node that Apple will use for its entry-level M series
One of the key points of the agreement is the chosen manufacturing process. Intel will produce the low-end M chips with its node 18A (and its advanced variant 18AP), a technology of approximately 2 nanometers which represents the company's most advanced level at the moment.
The process Intel 18A promises up to a 15% improvement in performance per watt and around 30% more density compared to the Intel Node 3, which allows for the integration of more transistors in the same space while keeping power consumption down. This technology is already in use in the United States and is employed in the new Intel Core Ultra 3 series (Panther Lake)which serves as a calling card to demonstrate his maturity.
In order for Apple to adapt its designs to this node, both companies have reportedly already signed an agreement. confidentiality agreement which gives Cupertino early access to the 18A process design kit (PDK). The final version of that PDK, identified as 1.0/1.1, is expected for the first quarter of 2026, at which point Apple engineers will be able to fine-tune their future M chips to the maximum based on real node parameters.
If the schedule is met, Intel could begin shipping the first low-end M processors for Apple between the second and third quarters of 2027.In practice, that would place the arrival of the first MacBook Air and iPad Pro with Apple Silicon chips manufactured by Intel in the second half of 2027, fitting in with the company's usual product renewal cycles.
The adoption of 18A for such a demanding customer also means something for Intel an important endorsement of the commercial viability of this nodeIn fact, Kuo himself points out that if the collaboration works and the leap to future processes such as 14A If successful, the Santa Clara company could attract more orders from Apple and other top-tier players.
Relationship with TSMC and why Apple doesn't break with its main supplier
Despite the buzz surrounding Intel's return to Apple's orbit, The agreement does not represent a break with TSMCThe Taiwanese foundry will remain the company's main partner for the most advanced chips, such as the high-end M series (Pro, Max, and Ultra) and iPhone SoCs based on cutting-edge nodes.
Apple's strategy is more about a mixed manufacturing modelwhere each foundry assumes a different level of complexity. TSMC will maintain production of processors with the highest performance and density requirements, while Intel will handle the entry-level models and, in some cases, the mid-range models.where the balance between cost, energy efficiency and production capacity carries more weight.
In terms of volume, the orders that Intel will receive They do not significantly alter TSMC's positionThe lower-end M-chips, used primarily in the MacBook Air and iPad Pro, are expected to reach around 20 million units in 2025 and between 15 and 20 million in 2026 and 2027, partly due to the possible arrival of a more affordable MacBook with a processor derived from the iPhone, which would absorb part of the demand.
This load sharing allows Apple diversify risks without dismantling its historical relationship with TSMCIn a context of high global demand for leading nodes, having two partners capable of manufacturing advanced chips gives the company more room to negotiate prices, deadlines and capacities, something especially critical when planning global launches.
For TSMC itself, the impact on direct revenue is limited, but Yes, it introduces more serious competition in the leading processes segment.Intel's entry as a viable alternative may push all foundries to accelerate their technology roadmaps and adjust costs to retain high-profile customers.
Strategic motivations: second source, industrial policy and the European market
Apple's decision to collaborate with Intel again isn't solely due to technical reasons. There's a clear component of risk management and geopolitical strategyIn recent years, TSMC's almost total dependence—with much of its capacity concentrated in Taiwan—has been seen as a potential weakness in the face of international tensions, health crises, or logistical problems.
By bringing Intel on board as a partner, Apple A second manufacturing source located in the United States is confirmed.This helps diversify the supply chain and geographically balance the production of such a critical component as the processor. A large portion of the chips under process 18A will be produced in facilities such as the Fab 52 of Arizona, one of the pillars of the new US industrial strategy in semiconductors.
This move also fits with political pressures to strengthen the "Made in USA"In recent years, different administrations—with special emphasis on the Donald Trump era and its focus on reindustrialization—have demanded a greater commitment to local manufacturing from large technology companies. Apple can present these new MacBook Air and iPad Pro as examples of devices with silicon produced on American soil.This adds points in the internal debate on employment, investment, and strategic technology.
From Intel's perspective, the agreement represents a huge boost for his foundry businessIt has been trying for some time to reposition itself as a real alternative to TSMC and Samsung, and landing a client like Apple, known for its demanding standards, is a powerful signal to the rest of the industry. Furthermore, manufacturing large quantities of Arm-based chips—an architecture traditionally foreign to its x86 business—reinforces the company's shift towards a more open and flexible model.
In Europe, and in countries like SpainThese decisions will be closely watched. While the European Union is pushing its own chip strategy to attract advanced manufacturing to the continent, the fact that Lead node production remains highly concentrated in the United States and Asia It highlights the challenge the region faces in not falling behind in the silicon race.
What can MacBook Air and iPad Pro users expect in Spain and Europe?
For the user who simply wants to buy a laptop or tablet, this whole industrial network may sound distant, but It has direct consequences on the availability and stability of the productsMacBook Air and iPad Pro are especially popular in Spain and the rest of Europe, both in home environments and in education and work.
If Intel manages to supply without problems the entry-level and mid-range M processorsApple will have a more solid foundation to avoid stock shortages at key times. Campaigns like Black Friday, Christmas, or back-to-school season often put the supply chain to the test, and having two large foundries working in parallel reduces the likelihood of certain models being out of stock for weeks.
In terms of prices, it's too early to anticipate major changes, but having TSMC and Intel competing for a share of production This gives Apple more leeway when negotiating costs. This may not translate into spectacular price reductions, but it could help to contain sharp price increases linked to semiconductor shortages, something that has already been seen in other technological segments.
What does seem clear is that European users will continue to have access to equipment with notable improvements in performance and energy efficiencyThe move to nodes like the Intel 18A in the entry-level M series, combined with the advancements that TSMC brings to the more powerful series, should guarantee increasingly capable Macs and iPads without skyrocketing power consumption.
The turn by which Intel will manufacture the chips for Apple's MacBook Air and iPad Pro From 2027 onwards, a new map is emerging in the silicon industry: Apple gains room to maneuver and reinforces its commitment to manufacturing in the United States, Intel is gambling a good part of its future as a major advanced foundry, and TSMC maintains its throne in the most demanding designs, while for users in Spain and the rest of Europe the most tangible consequence will be a more predictable supply of laptops and tablets, with less risk of shortages and a pace of innovation that, barring any surprises, will remain very high.
