Apple has launched test production of system‑on‑chip units built on Intel’s 18A‑P process, targeting low‑end iPhone, iPad and Mac models for power efficiency and cost. Supply‑chain analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo confirmed the runs after weeks of reported talks between the two firms. The move marks a reversal from Intel’s role as Apple’s sole Mac‑CPU supplier before the 2020 shift to in‑house M silicon.

Apple’s push reflects growing unease about depending on TSMC for its silicon roadmap. Washington officials have reportedly urged the Cupertino giant to rekindle ties with Intel, even after the U.S. government took a ten‑percent stake in the chipmaker. Intel plans 2026 test runs, aims for 2027 volume production at its Oregon, Arizona and Ohio fabs, with the 18A‑P node matching TSMC’s N2 density.

If the pilot succeeds, Intel would allocate roughly 80 % of its output to iPhone chips, while TSMC would still manufacture about 90 % of Apple’s total silicon. Apple is also evaluating Intel’s 14A (1.4 nm) node for future devices. The diversification effort gives Apple a tangible fallback option and pressures the foundry market to accommodate a second major customer in the coming years.