Apple is going back to Intel after 5-long years, what makes this important for Apple and Intel

Apple is set to reunite with Intel in 2027, but not in the way you might expect. According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg reports, Intel will manufacture Apple's entry-level M-series processors rather than design them, marking a dramatic shift from their previous relationship that ended in 2020.

Intel could begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chips as early as the second or third quarter of 2027, using its advanced 18AP manufacturing process. These processors would power future MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models, with projected shipments of 15-20 million units.

For Apple, manufacturing moves closer to home

The partnership helps Apple demonstrate commitment to "buying American" and aligns with the Trump administration's Made in USA policy. This political positioning comes as Apple faces increasing pressure to localize production.

More critically, the deal provides Apple with a second manufacturing source beyond Taiwan-based TSMC, which currently produces all of Apple's silicon chips. This diversification reduces supply chain vulnerabilities while TSMC continues manufacturing higher-end M-series variants and iPhone processors.

For Intel, it could prove to be the lifeline it needed

For Intel, this represents a crucial turnaround signal. While the direct revenue may be modest, winning Apple's advanced-node orders carries significance far exceeding the financial contribution, suggesting Intel's foundry business may have turned a corner.

The partnership could help Intel secure additional orders from other tier-one customers for its 14A node and beyond, potentially transforming the company's long-term outlook after years of market share losses to AMD and struggles in the AI chip sector.

Unlike their previous arrangement where Intel designed x86-based processors for Macs, this new partnership involves Intel solely as a manufacturer for Apple's Arm-based chip designs. Apple has already signed a non-disclosure agreement with Intel and obtained preliminary development kits, with final specifications expected in early 2026.

The collaboration marks an ironic twist: Intel, which once dominated Mac computing, returns not as a designer but as a manufacturing partner for the very chips that replaced its processors.