Sources: Apple and Intel have reached a formal deal in recent months for Intel to manufacture some chips for Apple devices; INTC closes up 13.93%

The iPhone maker and U.S. silicon giant will work together on chips for Apple devices. The Trump administration pushed for the deal.

Wall Street Journal 2026-05-09

Context & Ripple Effects

Related coverage shows the Apple–Intel relationship moving from early-stage U.S. production discussions to a reported formal manufacturing arrangement, with a later report describing work on chip design and production. It also follows earlier Apple interest in Intel's modem business and Intel's more recent efforts to deepen ties with both Apple and TSMC.

The reported administration involvement makes the arrangement consequential beyond the two companies: it links Intel's turnaround narrative to a major device maker's chip supply chain and domestic-production priorities.

First-order effects

Intel gains a reported Apple manufacturing customer, potentially adding a high-profile validation point for its foundry operations; the immediate market response reflected that significance.
Apple adds Intel as a reported manufacturing partner for some device chips, reducing the extent to which its production plan depends on a single chipmaker.

Second-order effects

A visible Apple win would increase pressure on Intel to execute on yield, capacity, and delivery, because Apple-volume production is a more demanding test than preliminary discussions.
The deal could intensify competition for advanced-chip manufacturing business, particularly among suppliers seeking large U.S.-based customers and government-supported production commitments.

Third-order effects

If Apple moves meaningful production to Intel and Intel executes reliably, leading device companies may increasingly treat manufacturing diversification as a strategic requirement rather than a contingency.
Government influence in semiconductor supply-chain decisions could become more durable, with commercial partnerships also serving domestic-production and industrial-policy objectives.

The trend: This is a data point in the shift toward geographically diversified, policy-supported semiconductor manufacturing anchored by major device-platform customers.

Discussion

@jukan05 Jukan on x
This is pretty surprising... Apparently, DJT himself told Apple to use Intel, saying, “I like Intel.” per WSJ [image]
@patrickmoorhead Patrick Moorhead on x
Not surprised at all. Apple needs Intel, Intel needs Apple and Apple is one of the few companies with the resources to successfully pull off a real, dual foundry strategy for a single device. An agreement doesn't mean wafer revenue will happen 100%. Intel needs to deliver on 1…
@kobeissiletter @kobeissiletter on x
This is absolutely insane: President Trump's purchase of 10% of Intel, $INTC, was worth $8.9 billion in August 2025. Today, Apple announced a deal with Intel and this position is worth $56.5 billion. That's a gain of +$47.6 BILLION in less than 8 months. Truly unprecedented. [ima…
@ecommerceshares @ecommerceshares on x
A year ago they said this would be impossible. That chip manufacturing would never, ever move back. That US re-industrialisation was a lost cause. That it was impossible. And only a year later, here we are. $AAPl + $INTC 👏 👏 👏 [image]
@mweinbach Max Weinbach on x
This report doesn't mention the specific chip, but it's either base A21 for base iPhone 19/19e or M7/M8 base chip Could also be for the CPU tile of some of the chiplet silicon Either way, this is big
@jack_raines Jack Raines on x
Pretty wild that you could have simply YOLO'd Intel when Trump took a stake and made 5x-6x in a year.
@katietarasov Katie Tarasov on x
If (and when) the Apple Intel deal happens, @BenBajarin says it'll be for 18A-P. That could scale next year, spelling the end of an era for Apple's sole reliance on TSMC, and a huge boon for the once-struggling (only U.S.-based) advanced chip manufacturer https://www.cnbc.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
If by “pretty surprising” you mean the “least surprising thing in world history,” then yes.
@firstadopter Tae Kim on x
WSJ: “Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary agreement for Intel to manufacture some of the chips that power Apple devices, according to people familiar with the matter.” $AAPL $INTC
@andrewcurran_ Andrew Curran on x
These talks have been going on for some time. Intel has now reached an agreement to manufacture chips for Apple devices. [image]
@mzuhair123 Muhammad Zuhair on x
The biggest risks with the $INTC x $AAPL collaboration: - CapEX hikes for 18A-P capacity, along with margin constraints. - How will Apple manage TSMC-Intel allocations, or whether it would be a fair one? I expect a 70-30 split in the beginning, likely with A21. - Will Intel be…
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
Intel is the only foundry, and a now officially viable foundry second source, who has the capacity to expand to meet this DEEP foundry capacity shortage we have in the semiconductor industry. I'd expect any deal with Apple to be a customer zero dynamic, and the benefits that com…
@scobleizer Robert Scoble on x
I didn't see this one coming. Apple and Intel working together again? Wild.
@greengart Avi Greengart on x
The WSJ: @Apple and @Intel have a preliminary agreement for Intel to build chips for Apple. There are shockingly few details here but ANY deal with N.A., non-TSMC sourcing should help add some slack to Apple's supply chain (likely several years away) https://www.wsj.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
I would pay careful attention to the language in this story, which does not say there is a signed agreement in place to produce, but rather the two sides are in discussions and Apple is still concerned about Intel's technology. Will it happen? Probably. But it's still early.
@anshelsag Anshel Sag on x
The rumors were true. @Intel Foundry is popping off and basically validates the entire Intel turnaround thesis, as the product is finally in line as well. 18A was always going to be the turning point, with 14A being the real growth accelerator. Been writing about this for years.
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Apple, Intel Have Reached Preliminary Chip-Making Agreement
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Apple, Intel Have Reached Preliminary Chip-Making Agreement
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