Intel asks Apple for support – what that could mean

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Five years after its split from Intel, Apple is apparently considering a new form of collaboration. Talks between the two companies are reportedly underway at a time when Intel is facing significant difficulties. The trigger: Intel has approached Apple about a potential investment.

Apple finally broke away from Intel in 2020 and introduced its own chips. Since then, all Macs have been based on Apple Silicon, manufactured at TSMC. This decision has had a lasting impact on Apple's trajectory, while Intel has lost market share and trust in recent years. Today, Intel is focused on attracting new investors and partners to secure its position in the global competition. Apple could play a role in this, although the future of these discussions remains open.

Intel's problems and the search for investors

Intel has struggled for years to keep pace with competitors like TSMC and AMD. At the beginning of 2025, the company announced it would be cutting its workforce by 15 percent. It also halted plans to build new factories in Europe. To support the company, the US government stepped in in August and acquired a 9.9 percent stake in Intel. The goal is to accelerate the construction of new production facilities in Ohio. Other investors also stepped in: Nvidia invested $5 billion to secure manufacturing capacity for PC and data center chips. The Japanese company SoftBank contributed an additional $2 billion. At the same time, Intel is talking to other companies about investments and partnerships (via Bloomberg ).

Apple and the departure from Intel

Before Apple switched to its own chips in 2020, Macs used Intel processors for many years. The collaboration ended because Intel's development speed no longer met its requirements. Apple instead developed its own chips, which have since been manufactured at TSMC. The two companies also attempted to collaborate on 5G modems. The goal was to break free from their dependence on Qualcomm. However, Intel was unable to build modems that met Apple's quality standards. Ultimately, Intel withdrew from the modem business entirely and sold this division to Apple.

What role could Apple play?

The return of Intel processors in Apple products is considered unlikely. The performance and efficiency of the company's own chips have become a key selling point for Macs. Nevertheless, a collaboration could take place in another form. One possibility would be for Intel to produce certain components for Apple in the future. This would allow Apple to diversify its supply chain and reduce its dependence on TSMC. The geopolitical situation surrounding Taiwan, in particular, makes alternatives attractive. For Intel, Apple would be a prestigious partner that could help stabilize its market position.

Apple and Intel: Talks with uncertain outcome

Talks between Apple and Intel are still in their early stages and could remain fruitless. However, one thing is clear: Intel needs strong partners and fresh capital, while Apple is primarily looking for security and stability in its supply chain. A new collaboration therefore doesn't necessarily mean that Intel will once again build core chips for Apple. It could, however, demonstrate that both companies have common interests despite their history. (Image: Shutterstock / Hepha1st0s)