Apple may soon diversify the production of its iPhone processors, opening the doors to Intel as a new partner for the creation of the A20 SoC. According to an indiscretion reported by the Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the Cupertino giant is considering the possibility of entrusting Intel with the production of chipsets for the iPhone 18 series, scheduled for 2026.
Currently, Apple relies almost exclusively on TSMC for its processors. The A18 and A18 Pro SoCs, launched in September 2024 with the iPhone 16 series (which you can find on Amazon), are produced using TSMC’s N3E node, while the A19s for the iPhone 17 series, expected in 2025, should use the N3P node. However, Intel’s entry into the manufacturing landscape could represent a significant turning point.
According to rumors, Apple would be interested in Intel’s 20A nodealthough the latter has recently been abandoned in favor of more advanced technologies, such as nodes 18A and 14A. This opens up the possibility of Apple becoming an Intel Foundry customer for future generations of chips. However, questions remain about Intel’s ability to meet Apple’s quality and manufacturing standards, especially considering the company’s historical difficulties in managing transitions between process nodes.
Alternatively, Apple could remain loyal to TSMC, focusing on a future 2nm node not yet officially announced. This choice would ensure continuity in the supply chain, a critical aspect for a company that bases part of its success on production stability.
Another determining factor could be US industrial policy. If the US government were to incentivize or mandate more domestic manufacturing, companies like Apple, NVIDIA, AMD and Qualcomm could be pushed to consider local suppliers like Intel. This scenario would make the possible agreement between Apple and Intel not only a technological question, but also a strategic one.
With the launch of the iPhone 18 series still far away, many uncertainties remain. The collaboration with Intel would represent a paradigm shift for Apple, but it is yet to be understood whether it is a step towards innovation or simply premature speculation.
Source: www.tomshw.it
