Fate smiles on Intel as Apple A21 SoC could ditch TSMC for Intel or Samsung

We have been hearing rumors about Apple testing Intel Foundry’s process nodes for its next-gen iPhone and MacBook processors for some months now. Bloomberg has now confirmed that Apple has indeed held “exploratory” talks with Intel and Samsung about building Apple silicon. While these talks are early-stage, Mark Gurman expects nothing imminent, this is a pretty big deal for Intel and Samsung, who have fallen behind TSMC in recent years.

Both Samsung and Intel are now mass-producing chips on their latest 2 nm SF2 and Intel 18A nodes, respectively. Both companies are also actively looking for external customers. This is especially important for Intel, as a major part of CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s comeback plan for Intel has been to secure external customers for Intel’s most advanced nodes. 

With the news that Apple is looking to add Intel and Samsung as secondary options to TSMC, it seems Intel is finally getting somewhere. Intel has reportedly managed to enhance yields of the 2 nm Intel 18A node. Moreover, the next version of Intel 18A, the 18A-P, is reportedly also coming along nicely.

The new 18A-P node promises 9% more performance or the same performance as Intel 18A at 18% lower power. Reports emerged late last year that Intel could manufacture Apple’s M-series SoCs on the 18A-P node in 2027, starting with SoCs for low-end MacBook models like the MacBook Air (buy one on Amazon).

However, the chip Apple is planning to delegate to Intel might not be an M-series SoC, but an A-series SoC for the 20th-anniversary iPhones.

Intel could manufacture Apple's A21 SoC for the 20th anniversary iPhones

KeplerL2 reports on X that Intel or Samsung could produce the Apple A21 SoC. The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro are set to feature A20 and A20 Pro SoCs. So, the A21 could power 2027’s 20th-anniversary iPhones.

This could also mean that Apple might be looking to divide production of its mobile chips between TSMC and Intel/Samsung. So, as pointed out by @harukaze5719, TSMC could produce the A21 Pro for the iPhone Pro/Pro Max, while Intel/Samsung could produce the A21 for the base iPhone. Naturally, all of this depends on whether Intel and Samsung can meet Apple’s performance, efficiency, and cost requirements.

As always, no one can say for sure what Apple is actually planning behind the scenes. So, take these leaks and rumors with a grain of salt.