Intel could power your future iPhone, and the real twist won't be what you expect

Recently, a rumor has claimed that Apple is considering returning to Intel chips for some MacBooks, particularly entry-level models. Now, a new claim indicates that the MacBook won't be the only device that'll reportedly use chips manufactured by Intel. 

Intel may make some chips for iPhones 

The info comes from a research note with investment firm GF Securities written by analyst Jeff Pu. Pu claims that he and his colleagues are now expecting Intel to conclude a supply deal with Apple. The deal may cover at least some iPhone processors, particularly for non-Pro-branded iPhones. The change is said to start in 2028. 

Reportedly, these processors may be built using Intel's upcoming 14A process. 


But don't rush to conclusions just yet. Reportedly, there's no indication that Intel would play any role in designing said iPhone chips. It seems like the company's involvement may be limited to making the processors. Meanwhile, the Cupertino tech giant may continue to design the chips. 

Basically, Intel may produce a smaller percentage of chips alongside Apple's long-term partner TSMC. 

Apple's partnership with Intel rumored previously 

That's not the first time we hear about Apple "returning", in a way, to Intel.  Recently, reputable analyst and industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo stated that he believes Intel may start shipping lower-end M-series chips for select Macs and even iPad models. That partnership is rumored to start as early as 2027. 

Kuo believes that Apple is planning to take advantage of Intel's 18A process. That would be the earliest available sub-2nm advanced process that would be made in North America, according to the tipster. 

Keep in mind that Intel supplying M chips for Apple's MacBooks is different from the Intel-based MacBooks in the past. The latter used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture, while the Apple-designed chips are ARM-based. 

Basically, the chips that Apple designed for MacBooks are noticeably more power-efficient and have given MacBooks a boost in performance. Luckily, Apple is not planning (it seems) to directly return to Intel for the design of its chips. 

However, adding Intel to its supply partners would be beneficial for Apple, as it would help diversify its supply chain. In the past, Intel supplied iPhones with cellular modems for some models, starting with the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 11. 

It's still not clear how well these Intel-manufactured chips would perform, as well as what would make them different (if anything) from TSMC-manufactured ones. Only time will tell, so for now, we'll have to wait and see. 

Why this Intel–Apple rumor actually makes sense

In my opinion, this move wouldn't be that surprising. Apple has been trying to diversify its suppliers for years, and leaning on Intel for manufacturing, while still designing the chips itself, feels like a smart, low-risk way to do that. 

The change could help Apple avoid delays, reduce pressure on TSMC, and have more flexibility if global chip production gets shaky again. Plus, by 2028, Intel's new processes might actually be competitive enough for Apple to trust them with non-Pro iPhone chips.

The real question is how these Intel-made chips will compare in performance to the ones from TSMC. We don't know yet, and Apple will definitely want to avoid any drop in speed or battery life. 

But if Intel can deliver the same quality, this could be a win for everyone: Apple gets more supply stability, Intel gets a huge customer, and users probably won't notice a difference at all. Hopefully.