Apple and Intel have reportedly reached a preliminary manufacturing agreement that would see Intel’s fabrication facilities produce chips for Apple, potentially including the next-generation A21 processor intended for MacBook Neo models.

Deal background and drivers
According to multiple outlets, the two companies concluded intensive discussions that extended over more than a year and culminated in a formal preliminary arrangement. The reported deal comes as Apple seeks to expand foundry capacity beyond its longtime partner TSMC, driven largely by surging demand for MacBook Neo laptops and constrained wafer supply caused by elevated AI-related demand across the chip ecosystem.

What Apple hopes to gain
Shifting some production to Intel would provide Apple with additional capacity for its entry-level and mainstream SoCs, easing pressure on TSMC’s N3B volumes that currently serve Apple’s A18 family. The arrangement is positioned as a means for Apple to better meet demand for Neo-branded notebooks and to stabilize supply for devices that also share silicon with iPhone families.

Intel’s foundry ambitions and potential processes
For Intel, the prospective agreement marks a prominent commercial win for its foundry initiative. Public references to Intel process nodes such as 18A-P and 14A have circulated as plausible candidates for manufacturing Apple designs, though no official node selection has been disclosed. Intel’s recent product announcements — including its own Core Series 3 “Wildcat Lake” chips produced on advanced internal nodes — underscore the company’s push to attract external foundry customers.

Market context and alternatives
Reports indicate Apple has also engaged Samsung and previously explored multiple sources to diversify supply. Should volumes or strategic considerations require it, Apple could still pursue capacity with other major fabs. For Intel, hosting Apple wafers would bolster credibility for its technology roadmap elements such as enhanced 18A variants, 14A, and integrated packaging approaches that the company has been promoting to the market.

Sources and reporting
News outlets that covered the preliminary deal characterized it as an important step for both parties: Apple to secure additional chip supply for high-demand products, and Intel to validate its foundry strategy by landing a marquee client. Neither company publicly confirmed detailed terms, specific process nodes, nor an explicit list of chips covered in the agreement at the time of reporting.