Intel could finally return to Apple computers in 2027 | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Intel could finally return to Apple computers in 2027Comments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleIntel could finally return to Apple computers in 2027Intel could supply Apple’s lowest-end M chips by 2027, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts.Intel could supply Apple’s lowest-end M chips by 2027, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts.by Andrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsTransportation editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. HawkinsNov 28, 2025, 7:25 PM UTCLinkShareImage: Alex Castro / The VergeAndrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.Will Apple turn to Intel for production of its M-series chips in 2027? That’s what supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted on X Friday. Citing his latest industry surveys, Kuo says that Intel’s chances of becoming Apple’s latest “advanced-node supplier… has improved significantly” in recent weeks.Any deal with Intel would be significant considering the chipmaker famously missed out on supplying its own processors for the original iPhone. Apple now has a deal with Taiwan-based TSMC to supply silicon chips for its iPhone, iPad and Mac products.Kuo says that Apple has a non-disclosure agreement with Intel to acquire the company’s 18AP PDK 0.9.1GA chips. At this point, the company is waiting on Intel to deliver the PDK 1.0/1.1 kit, which is supposed to arrive in the first quarter of 2026. If everything stays on track, Intel could start shipping Apple’s lowest-end M-series processor, built on the 18AP advanced node, sometime in the second or third quarter of 2027, Kuo says. But that timing still depends on how smoothly things go once Apple actually gets the PDK 1.0/1.1 kit.Kuo theorizes that a deal with Intel could help Apple demonstrate to the Trump administration that its committed to “buying American” by rerouting its supply chain to include more US-based companies. For Intel, a deal could signal that the company’s worst days are passed. “Looking ahead, the 14A node and beyond could capture more orders from Apple and other tier-one customers, turning Intel’s long-term outlook more positive,” Kuo writes.Could Apple strike a deal with Intel? And what would happen if it decided to use the chipmaker’s 18AP processors for its entry-level M-series?Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsTransportation editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. 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This article details a potentially significant development in the computing industry: the possibility of Apple returning to a partnership with Intel for the production of its M-series chips, with an anticipated commencement of supply in the second or third quarter of 2027. The prediction originates from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who posits that Intel’s chances of becoming a “advanced-node supplier” for Apple have increased substantially in recent weeks.

Specifically, Kuo’s analysis centers around Apple’s acquisition of Intel’s 18AP PDK 0.9.1GA chips, contingent upon receiving the company’s 1.0/1.1 PDK kit, slated for delivery in the first quarter of 2026. If that timeline holds, Intel could begin manufacturing Apple’s lowest-end M-series processors, utilizing the 18AP advanced node. This represents a considerable reversal, given Apple’s longstanding reliance on Taiwan-based TSMC for chip fabrication.

The strategic implications of this potential deal extend beyond simple supply chain diversification. Kuo suggests that a partnership with Intel could demonstrate Apple’s commitment to “buying American,” potentially mitigating concerns raised by the Trump administration regarding Apple's reliance on foreign manufacturing. Furthermore, the deal would represent a positive sign for Intel, signaling a renewed outlook for the chipmaker, particularly with the prospect of increased orders for the 14A node and beyond from Apple and other tier-one customers.

The core element of the discussion revolves around Intel’s 18AP processor and its intended use in Apple’s entry-level M-series chips. The anticipated supply timeline is crucial, hinging on the timely delivery of the PDK 1.0/1.1 kit and the subsequent smooth integration of Intel’s technology within Apple’s product line. The analyst stresses that this represents a long-term endeavor, with considerable dependence on the coordinated execution of this operational agreement. The overall picture paints a scenario where, if successful, Apple could bolster its technological portfolio while simultaneously offering a boost to Intel's strategic position in the semiconductor market.