Apple made a preliminary agreement with Intel to diversify its chip supply chain and reduce its dependence on TSMC. Here are the details.
Apple has reached a preliminary agreement with Intel to diversify its chip supply chain and reduce its dependence on TSMC. It is stated that the negotiations between the two companies, which have been ongoing for more than a year, have reached an important stage in recent months.
Within the scope of this cooperation, it is aimed to produce some of Apple’s chips in the United States. Although it is not yet clear for which Apple devices Intel will produce, M series processors are expected to be used in Mac and iPad models.
The Role of the US Administration and Production Strategy
Apple’s decision to work with Intel follows President Trump’s personal encouragement of US-based manufacturing. In this regard, Apple has committed to an investment of $400 million to increase its production activities in the USA.
The US government had previously supported Intel by investing 10 percent of its shares worth $9 billion. Nvidia also invested $5 billion in Intel in September 2025, establishing a partnership for data center processors.
Apple currently relies heavily on TSMC to manufacture chips for its products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. However, depending on a single manufacturer caused supply problems, especially in popular products such as MacBook Neo, Mac mini and Mac Studio.
With the increasing demand for high-performance chips, Apple’s need to diversify its manufacturing resources has become more evident. The company had realized the risks posed by excessive dependence on factories in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, Apple has begun to distribute risks by shifting its production facilities to different regions such as India and Vietnam. With the inclusion of the USA in this strategy, it is aimed to increase the flexibility in the supply chain. What do you think will change the technology world if Apple moves its production to the USA?
Seeking Diversity in the Supply Chain
Apple wants to secure its production capacity in the face of global chip crises and increasing demand. This potential agreement with Intel stands out as an important part of the company’s long-term manufacturing strategy.
Having Intel’s production facilities in the US could give Apple more control over its logistics and production processes. Working with two different manufacturers could help Apple overcome possible future supply bottlenecks.
Diversification of production centers in the technology world is of critical importance, especially for projects requiring high-performance processors.
This move by Apple shows how major players in the industry are reshaping their production strategies.