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2w ago

Apple Said to Tap Intel to Build Entry-Level M Chips as Soon as 2027

The reported plan hinges on Intel delivering a finalized 18AP design kit in early 2026.

Intel-powered Apple silicon chips might be a reality in 2027.
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Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 processor inside it
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Overview

  • Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple signed an NDA with Intel and has early access to the 18AP PDK 0.9.1GA for simulations and PPA work.
  • If validation proceeds after PDK 1.0/1.1 arrives in Q1 2026, Intel could ship Apple’s lowest-end M processors in the second to third quarter of 2027.
  • The prospective Intel-made parts would cover standard M-class chips for devices like MacBook Air and iPad Pro, with TSMC retaining higher-end and iPhone-class production.
  • Kuo projects roughly 15–20 million units annually in 2026–2027, with demand potentially trimmed by a rumored low-cost MacBook that uses an iPhone-class chip.
  • The arrangement is framed as supply-chain diversification that aligns with U.S. manufacturing priorities, and Intel shares rose about 7–10% on the report.