Catalog of SIP Cores
System on Chip design resources
System on Chip design resources
The potential partnership would mark Intel’s biggest external foundry win yet—and a major test of U.S.-backed semiconductor strategy.
May 14, 2026 -
The reported preliminary agreement between Apple and Intel for Intel to manufacture some Apple-designed chips could signal far more than a new customer relationship. If realized at a meaningful scale, the partnership could reshape the economics of advanced semiconductor manufacturing, accelerate the transformation of Intel Foundry, and test the increasingly interventionist semiconductor strategy of the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Apple and Intel had reached a preliminary manufacturing agreement after more than a year of discussions. According to the article, the Trump administration played an active role in encouraging partnerships between Intel and major U.S. technology firms, including Apple, Nvidia, and SpaceX.
EE Times contacted Apple, Intel, and the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the reported agreement. Intel responded that it was “unable to answer” EE Times’ questions at this time. Apple and the Commerce Department did not respond before publication.
Intel did indicate that it could provide background on Intel Foundry’s strategy, suggesting further details may emerge as the story develops.
Many of the most important questions surrounding the reported agreement remain unanswered. Neither company has confirmed which Apple chips Intel might manufacture, whether the work would involve leading-edge process technologies such as Intel 18A or 14A, or whether the arrangement would involve full-scale production, pilot manufacturing, packaging, or more limited chiplet-related work.
Those details matter because the scale and technical scope of the relationship may ultimately determine whether the agreement represents a modest diversification effort—or the beginning of a significant restructuring of the advanced semiconductor manufacturing landscape.
One factor potentially driving Apple to explore alternatives is growing pressure on TSMC as AI-related demand consumes increasing amounts of advanced-node capacity.