After over a year of detailed discussions, The Wall Street Journal indicates that Apple has secured an initial pact allowing Intel to manufacture certain components for its products. Details on the agreement's scope remain undisclosed. As highlighted by the Journal, Apple annually delivers more than 200 million iPhones and requires consistent semiconductor supplies for various gadgets, such as iPads and Mac systems.
Engadget sought a response from Apple, but received none at the time of reporting. Intel chose not to provide any statements on the matter.
In the past year, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has held multiple sessions with Apple executives, including departing CEO Tim Cook, aiming to revive the partnership with Intel. Before 2020 and the introduction of Apple's initial in-house Silicon for Macs, Intel served as a major collaborator. In 2006, the MacBook series saw a significant revival following Steve Jobs' announcement of Apple's first Intel-based laptops. Indirectly, Apple's C1 modem stems from its 2019 acquisition of most of Intel's modem unit for $1 billion, which included about 2,200 staff members, intellectual property, and related assets.
Similar to other supplier ties, Apple's alliance with Intel eventually faded. Starting in 2010, Apple initiated development of its proprietary processors, beginning with the A4 chip that appeared in the original iPad and iPhone 4. In 2015, the company unveiled the 12-inch MacBook, marking its entry into fanless laptop designs. This model introduced the controversial 'butterfly' keyboard mechanism.
By 2020, Intel's position had significantly eroded from its previous dominance. For years, it struggled against Qualcomm and, more broadly, the ARM architecture in mobile markets. Lately, AMD has eroded Intel's hold on the PC processor sector through its strong Ryzen lineup.
Current global political developments seem to benefit Intel. In 2025, the firm named Lip-Bu Tan as CEO, succeeding Pat Gelsinger, prompting President Trump to question the choice due to Tan's prior China connections and demand his ouster. Soon after, Tan gained the president's support, leading to the White House acquiring a 10 percent ownership in Intel. That September, Intel finalized a $5 billion contract with NVIDIA to fabricate PC and data center processors for the AI leader. In April, it added a commitment to Elon Musk's Terafab initiative, involving chip production for Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI.
This positions Intel with an apparent initial arrangement involving Apple. According to the Journal, President Trump directly urged Tim Cook to partner with Intel during a White House discussion.