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Apple and Intel’s chip-making deal: What does this mean for the chip industry? Which Apple devices could get Intel chips?
Global Desk | May 9, 2026 2:57 AM CST

Synopsis

Apple and Intel have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement for the chipmaker to produce components for Apple hardware. This marks a potential return to collaboration after Apple's successful transition to its own Apple Silicon. While specific products remain unclear, discussions suggest Intel might manufacture Apple's lowest-end M processors as early as 2027.

Apple and Intel’s chip-making deal: What does this mean for the chip industry? Which Apple devices could get Intel chips?
Apple and Intel may be heading back into business together years after Apple moved away from Intel-powered Macs. Reports from The Wall Street Journal say the two tech giants have reached a preliminary agreement involving chip manufacturing for future Apple devices. While many details remain unclear, the reported deal has already sparked major buzz across Silicon Valley and Wall Street. The biggest mystery right now is which Apple products will actually use Intel-made chips again.



Apple-Intel Preliminary chip making agreement


Apple’s split from Intel was once seen as one of the biggest turning points in modern tech. The company’s transition to Apple Silicon transformed its Mac lineup and helped establish tighter control over its hardware ecosystem. But now, reports suggest the relationship between the two companies may be entering a surprising new chapter.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple and Intel finalized a preliminary agreement after months of discussions centered around manufacturing chips for Apple products.

The report of a preliminary Apple chip deal has caused a 15% increase in Intel shares, as per CNBC.

Why are Apple And Intel working together again?


The timing of the reported agreement is significant for both companies. Intel has spent the last few years trying to rebuild its chip manufacturing business and re-establish itself as a dominant force in the semiconductor industry. The company appointed Lip-Bu Tan as CEO in March 2025, and in August, the U.S. government reportedly acquired a 10% stake in Intel, as per several reports.

At the same time, Apple has reportedly been exploring ways to expand chip production in the United States. Bloomberg said the company recently held “exploratory discussions” with both Intel and Samsung about manufacturing Apple processors domestically.

The Wall Street Journal reported that talks between Apple and Intel had been ongoing for more than a year before the companies finally reached a formal agreement in recent months.

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Which Apple devices could get Intel Chips?


This remains the biggest unanswered question. The Wall Street Journal said it is “still unclear” which Apple products Intel could manufacture chips for. Apple currently ships more than 200 million iPhones annually along with millions of iPads and Mac computers, as per Reuters and The Verge.

Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Apple had been discussing the possibility of Intel and Samsung producing main processors for future devices. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also reportedly said Intel is “expected” to begin shipping “Apple’s lowest-end M processor” as early as 2027.


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Could this be a huge win for Intel?


For Intel, the reported deal could represent a major turning point. Reuters noted that Intel’s stock jumped sharply after news of the agreement surfaced, while Apple shares also climbed. Intel has been aggressively pursuing partnerships as it attempts to revive its chipmaking operations and compete more directly in the AI-driven semiconductor race, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters and The Verge.

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Last month, Intel also reportedly partnered with Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX to manufacture processors tied to Musk’s Terafab AI and robotics project.

Though many of the biggest details surrounding the Apple-Intel partnership remain under wraps. The two companies once defined by a high-profile split may now be preparing for an unexpected reunion, one that could reshape the future of chip manufacturing in the tech industry.

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FAQs


What is Apple and Intel’s reported new deal about?
The companies reportedly reached a preliminary agreement for Intel to manufacture some chips for Apple devices.

Which Apple products could use Intel chips?

That part remains unclear, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.


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