Intel and Apple have just entered a "preliminary" chipmaking deal, which will see the production of the A21 chips for MacBook Neo.
Apple Wants Extra Supply For Its Highly Successful MacBook Neo Laptops & Intel Is Here To Save The Day
Currently, Apple uses TSMC's N3B process technology to make its A18 chips, the ones that power the MacBook Neo and its iPhone 16 series. But the recent surge in MacBook Neo demand has prompted Apple to diversify its chip production strategy.
As per the latest announcements just minutes ago, both Apple and Intel have reached a "preliminary" chipmaking deal through which Intel's Fabs will be used to produce Apple chips. Although no specific chip has been named as part of the agreement, sources suggest that this could very well be the next-generation A21.
Apple recently hiked the prices of its MacBook Neo laptops by $100, which is a heavy jump over the mainstream $599 positioning. The A18 chip used by the MacBook Neo is also used by iPhones, & as there's a massive shortage of chips ongoing due to heightened AI demand, the company has made efforts to adjust its chipmaking capabilities.
Apple, opens new tab and Intel, opens new tab have reached a preliminary agreement for Intel to manufacture some of the chips that power the iPhone maker's devices, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The companies had been engaged in intensive talks for more than a year, and they hammered out a formal deal in recent months, the report said.
This deal will help Apple secure additional supply for its entry-level and mainstream-focused chips as TSMC supply continues to remain tight. With the new model, Apple will be able to position future Neo laptops far better and in decent quantities.
It should be pointed out that MacBook Neo is now being seen as the primary competitor to Intel and AMD x86 offerings in the same segment. Intel just released its Core Series 3 chips, codenamed Wildcat Lake, which are the direct competition to MacBook Neo, and use the company's 18A process technology. No node details have been stated for Apple's chips that will be made at Intel, but 18A-P and 14A are both potential candidates.
Apple was previously reported to have gone to both Intel and Samsung, so there's still a good chance that they would reach out the Korean semiconductor firm for capacity if the need arises, but for Intel, this is definitely a big win, and one that is going to be seen as a confidence multipler for Chipzilla as it amps up its Foundry Buisness through key technologies such as 18A-P, 14A, and EMIB.
About the author: A Software Engineer by training and a PC enthusiast by passion, Hassan Mujtaba serves as Wccftech's Senior Editor for hardware section. With years of experience in the industry, he specializes in deep-dive technical analysis of next-generation CPU and GPU architectures, motherboards, and cooling solutions. His work involves not only breaking news on upcoming technologies but also extensive hands-on reviews and benchmarking.
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