Our verdict: nothing changes for Mac buyers. Apple designs its own chips either way, and the confirmed news that does affect you is software: macOS 27 is the last version with Rosetta for Intel-only apps.
What happened: Apple and Intel still haven't confirmed any chip-making deal. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 8, 2026, that the two had reached a preliminary agreement for Intel to make some Apple chips. As of October 23, neither company has announced or filed anything about it.
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Intel
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The key facts
Confirmed vs reported
| Claim | Confirmed by the company? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apple and Intel have a chip-making agreement | ✗ Reported only | Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2026 |
| Intel starts with entry-level M-series chips on 18A-P around 2027 | ✗ Analyst forecast | Ming-Chi Kuo |
| Intel names Apple as a foundry customer | ✗ | Intel's July 23, 2026 results name no outside customers |
| Apple designs its own chips (Apple silicon) | ✓ | Apple |
| TSMC Arizona is making 100 million+ chips for Apple in 2026 | ✓ | Apple, Oct 20, 2026 |
| Intel 18A is built at Fab 52 in Arizona | ✓ | Intel, Oct 9, 2025 |
| Intel 18A-P is in risk production | ✓ | Intel, July 23, 2026 |
| The U.S. government owns 9.9% of Intel | ✓ | Intel, Aug 22, 2025 |
Checked October 23, 2026, against Apple's newsroom, Intel's newsroom and investor site, and Intel's SEC filings.
What it means for you
Mac buyers- No confirmed deal, product or date
- Apple designs the chips either way
- Pick by chip generation and workload
The catch: Apple hasn't said which factory builds which chip.
Intel Mac owners- macOS 27 runs only on Apple silicon
- The Intel news doesn't change that
- Your Mac keeps working as it is
The catch: Apple hasn't said how long macOS 26 updates last.
- Intel-only apps stop running in macOS 28
- Some older games keep Rosetta
- Check your apps now (tip below)
The catch: old plug-ins and tools may have no update.
- TSMC Arizona: 100 million+ Apple chips in 2026
- Broadcom: 15 billion+ U.S. chips
- Mac mini assembly coming to Houston
The catch: Intel isn't on Apple's partner list yet.
What Apple has confirmed
Apple's U.S. chip plan is real, it just doesn't mention Intel. Its $600 billion, four-year pledge names TSMC, Texas Instruments, Broadcom and Amkor. On October 20, Apple said TSMC's Arizona fab will make more than 100 million chips for it this year.
In February, Apple said it had sourced more than 20 billion U.S.-made chips from 24 factories in 12 states, and that Mac mini production is moving to a new Houston factory.
What Intel has confirmed
Intel's 18A, which it calls the most advanced chip process developed and built in the U.S., is made at Fab 52 in Chandler, Arizona. On July 23, Intel said the refined 18A-P had entered risk production, the step before volume.
Intel hasn't named any outside foundry customers. The U.S. government took a 9.9% stake in August 2025, paid with $8.9 billion in grants Intel had already been awarded. Intel reports third-quarter results on October 29, the next place a customer could show up.
The verdict
The Apple-Intel chip deal is still a report, not an announcement. Buy a Mac when you need one, and spend your attention on the Rosetta deadline instead.
FAQ
Is Apple going back to Intel chips?
No. Apple designs its own Apple silicon chips, and macOS 27 runs only on Apple silicon Macs. The reported deal, which neither company has confirmed, would only have Intel manufacture some chips.
Will Macs get faster or slower because of the Intel deal?
There's nothing to measure yet. No deal is confirmed and no Intel-built Apple chip has been announced. Apple designs the chips no matter which factory builds them.
Will Macs get cheaper or more expensive?
Neither company has said anything about pricing, and no deal terms are public. Don't expect the report to change what Macs cost.
Should I wait to buy a Mac because of this deal?
No. There's no confirmed deal, product or date to wait for. Buy based on the chip generation and your workload.
What does this mean for Intel's foundry business?
Intel hasn't named Apple as a customer. Its July 23, 2026 results say Intel 18A-P entered risk production, and it reports third-quarter results on October 29, 2026.