Intel Starts Production of Low-End iPhone Chips for Apple

Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple and Intel have already kicked off production of low-end and legacy iPhone, iPad, and Mac processors. This update follows last week's Wall Street Journal report that the companies had struck a deal to produce chips. Kuo, who was the first to report last fall that Apple and Intel were exploring a renewed partnership, shared the details in a new report on X stating that initial production has already begun.

According to Kuo, Apple has kicked off low-end/legacy iPhone, iPad, and Mac processors at Intel on the 18A-P series using Foveros packaging. The order mix is roughly 80% iPhone, mirroring Apple's end-device sales mix. Apple's wafer plans at Intel reflect the technology lifecycle of the 18A-P series: small-scale testing in 2026, ramp in 2027, continued growth in 2028, and decline in 2029.

Apple is also actively evaluating Intel's other advanced-node technologies. Kuo's report is lengthy, largely containing the analyst's analysis and expectations on the Apple-Intel deal and its impact on TSMC. However, Kuo also includes these noteworthy news updates confirming that the companies have not wasted time since striking the deal.

Kuo doesn’t name specific chips being produced by Intel, other than mentioning that they are low-end/legacy. This likely means Intel is producing chips for older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models that are still on sale today. TSMC is still expected to handle orders for Apple’s most cutting-edge silicon.

Many see the addition of Intel as a chip manufacturer as a way Apple is mitigating risk from over-reliance on TSMC. Kuo notes, however, that TSMC is still expected to retain over 90% of supply share once Intel’s operations are fully up and running. The report underscores how the partnership has moved rapidly from agreement to initial manufacturing on the specified process node.