Apple M7 could become Intel’s trophy customer in 2027

This is something most people in the industry would’ve laughed off not too long ago: Apple is reportedly considering Intel as the manufacturer for its next baseline M7 chip — skipping TSMC entirely for that specific model.

The info comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says the regular M7 — the one likely bound for future MacBook Airs, iPads, and maybe a more affordable Vision Pro down the line — could be built on Intel’s 18A process. Intel is apparently branding the version tailored for Apple as “18AP.” Production wouldn’t kick off until 2027, so we’re still a few years away from seeing the results.

The more powerful M7 Pro and M7 Max? Those are still expected to stick with TSMC on its next-gen N2P or an upgraded A18 process. Basically: Apple spreads the workload while keeping its best silicon close to its most reliable partner.

If this all pans out, the base M7 would become a showcase for Intel’s big foundry comeback attempt — something the company badly wants after years of struggling with delayed nodes and lost clients. And Apple’s name alone would probably help Intel attract others (like Qualcomm) that are also looking for alternatives to TSMC.

On Apple’s side, the move seems like a supply strategy. Shipping millions of lower-tier Macs and iPads means Apple needs serious manufacturing capacity. Handing that chunk to Intel gives TSMC more room to focus on the high-margin stuff, and it gives Apple a second source that might grow into a real option long-term.

We’ll get a better idea of how good Intel’s 18A tech actually is when the first Panther Lake laptops hit the market next year. But the rumor that Apple is even considering betting real products on Intel’s foundry work says a lot — especially given the history between these two.

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