Apple May Move Some Chip Orders to Intel, Analyst Says
The shift, if realized, would end TSMC's monopoly on Apple's chip orders and give Intel a foothold in mobile and PC chip manufacturing, driven by TSMC's AI-chip capacity crunch and Apple's desire for supply diversification.
Reporting from 1 sources: ASCII.jp.
Apple is reportedly preparing to entrust Intel with manufacturing chips for low-cost iPhones, iPads, and Macs, breaking a decade-long exclusive relationship with TSMC. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says trial production has begun, with mass production expected from 2027 to 2028. Intel will use its 18A process, but TSMC will still supply over 90% of Apple's chips for now.
Apple is testing Intel as a second chip supplier for its iPhones, iPads, and Macs, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Trial production has already started for low-cost models, using Intel's advanced 18A manufacturing process. Full-scale mass production is expected between 2027 and 2028, with gradual expansion after that. Kuo says the orders are running simultaneously across Apple's three main product lines, with allocation roughly matching Apple's actual sales ratio: about 80% of orders are for iPhones. The move comes as TSMC's advanced capacity is increasingly allocated to AI chips, and Apple may want to secure alternative supply and bargaining power. However, Kuo notes that TSMC will continue to supply over 90% of Apple's chips for the foreseeable future. Intel's role will be limited to manufacturing; Apple will still design the chips. No official announcement has been made.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- ASCII.jp アップル製チップ、インテル製に？ TSMC独占に変化の兆し