Intel may start shipping lowest-end M-series processors in '2027'
A swtich back to Intel would be a shock for many.
Ming Chi Kuo tweeted this week that Intel may soon become the chip supplier for "Apple’s lowest-end M processor as early as 2027," after Apple dropped Intel from their MacBooks in 2020. This is a shock to many, given that Apple also is locked in a supplier agreement with TSMC, another chip manufacturer, for the chips found in the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
Kuo detailed how the lowest-end M series chips, typically found in devices like the MacBook Air and iPad Pro, are only expected to sell "15–20 million units," since the highly-anticipated affordable MacBook running an iPhone chip may eat into sales of the lower-end MacBooks. This estimate is slightly down from the "roughly 20 million units for 2025."
Kuo also mentioned how Apple has signed an NDA with Intel to obtain the "advanced-node 18AP PDK 0.9.1GA," which is a process development kit based on Intel's 18A chip process. It is essentially a development kit for companies like Apple to use to develop their chips. Apple is still waiting on the arrival of the kit from Intel, which should arrive around Q1 of 2026. This would put Apple in a position to have Intel start shipping the lowest-end M series processor around Q2 to Q3 of 2027.
For Apple, they would still be heavily reliant on TSMC for the bulk of their chip production. However, they are still looking for a second-source to manufacture their chips to meet supply-chain demands. TSMC would not be affected much, as the already smaller demand for the lowest-end M series processors moving to Intel will have a negligible impact on their business.
For Intel, this could indicate that they may finally be out of their long-standing issues with revenue and market share in chip development. Apple's supply demands for the chips could give Intel the revenue they need to bounce back.
Apple's lowest-end M series chips are very powerful, extremely efficient and are breakthroughs in chip development, and Intel's 18A process could bring them even farther. We will have to wait and see what Apple does soon.
