History Repeats Itself as Apple Explores Using Intel's 18AP Advanced Node
Devesh Beri
Mon, December 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM EST
2 min read
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In 2020, Apple stopped using Intel chips and switched to its own Apple Silicon chips for all Mac computers. These new chips offer better performance and use less power. Now, less than five years later, Intel is poised once again to make chips for Apple, though under very different circumstances and with a fundamentally distinct role.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's latest supply-chain report, Intel will start producing Apple's lowest-end M-series processor on its 18AP advanced node as early as mid-to-late 2027, a year before Apple drops support for Intel-based Macs. Apple has received early versions of a design kit from Intel and completed internal tests that showed positive results. The complete design kit is expected to arrive around the first quarter of 2026. This will lead to actual chip production starting about 18 months later. The target products are MacBook Air and iPad Pro, which together ship around 15–20 million units annually.
The difference between now and Apple's previous Intel era could not be starker. When Apple used Intel processors, the company relied entirely on Intel for its core computing architecture. Intel designed and controlled the roadmap; Apple had little choice but to follow. But this new arrangement completely flips that dynamic. Apple owns all chip design through its proprietary M-series architecture; Intel's role becomes purely manufacturing on Apple's terms and specifications. Apple retains complete control over which products get Intel-made chips.
Each company has different goals for this partnership. This partnership serves distinct purposes for each company. For Apple, using US-based Intel manufacturing for at least one tier of processors helps the company respond to the Trump administration's "Made in USA" push while reducing dependency on Taiwan as its sole cutting-edge foundry. Having Intel as a second source also strengthens Apple's negotiating position and supply-chain resilience against TSMC, even though TSMC will remain Apple's primary partner for the higher-end M-Pro, M-Max, and M-Ultra tiers, plus all A-series iPhone chips.
For Intel, successfully manufacturing Apple's advanced-node silicon on 18AP validates its foundry technology and opens the door to attracting other major customers.
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