Apple and Nvidia are reportedly in talks with Intel to produce portions of their 2028 chip lineup at American facilities, marking a significant shift in the semiconductor supply chain driven by political pressure, tariff concerns, and the need to diversify away from Taiwan’s TSMC.
According to an exclusive report from DigiTimes Asia, both tech giants are exploring Intel’s 14A process technology for specific, non-core components.
Intel’s stock jumped over 5% in premarket trading following the news, signaling Wall Street’s enthusiasm about the chipmaker’s foundry ambitions finally gaining traction with major clients.
The political push behind the partnership
The timing isn’t coincidental. With the Trump administration doubling down on domestic manufacturing mandates and potential tariffs looming over foreign-produced semiconductors, Apple and Nvidia are hedging their bets.
While TSMC remains their primary partner for cutting-edge chips, both companies are reportedly targeting low-volume, low-tier projects for Intel to satisfy U.S. manufacturing requirements and reduce geopolitical risks.
For Apple, the focus is on entry-level M-series processors destined for MacBooks. These chips don’t demand the same performance ceiling as the M Pro or M Max variants, making them ideal candidates for Intel’s still-maturing foundry services. It’s a cautious return after Apple famously ditched Intel processors for its own custom silicon starting in 2020.
Nvidia’s approach is more complex. The company plans to shift portions of the I/O die for its upcoming Feynman architecture to Intel’s 14A process by 2028, while keeping the critical GPU die at TSMC.
Intel is also expected to handle up to 25% of final packaging using its EMIB technology, with TSMC managing the remaining 75%. This dual-foundry strategy follows Nvidia’s $5 billion investment in Intel made in late 2025, cementing a long-term commitment to building a Made-in-America secondary supply route.
Can Intel deliver?
The real question isn’t whether Apple and Nvidia want to work with Intel, it’s whether Intel can actually pull it off. The company’s 14A process won’t enter risk production until 2027, with mass production slated for 2028. Any delays could derail these partnerships before they begin.
Intel also faces the challenge of making its fabrication technology compatible with designs originally built for TSMC nodes. Apple needs seamless performance parity to stay competitive with its MacBook Air and iPad Pro lines.
Nvidia requires advanced packaging capabilities that can handle multi-kilowatt power delivery for AI accelerators, something Intel’s EMIB technology might struggle to match compared to TSMC’s CoWoS-L interposer.
Still, the political and economic incentives are strong enough that both companies might relax some technical demands if key manufacturing goals are met.
For Intel, landing even partial orders from Apple and Nvidia would represent a massive validation of its foundry strategy after years of struggling to attract external customers.
The semiconductor landscape is shifting, and 2028 could mark the year American chip manufacturing makes its comeback, assuming Intel can deliver on its promises.
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