Intel stock jumps as tech analyst says Apple may tap its foundry for future M-series chips

Intel Corp. shares rose more than 8% on Friday after noted technology analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities said the US chipmaker could become a foundry supplier for upcoming generations of Apple’s M-series processors — a development that, if it materialises, would signal one of Intel’s most consequential wins in years.

In a post shared on X, Kuo wrote that industry checks suggest visibility on Intel supplying advanced-node chips for Apple has “recently improved significantly.”

Apple has already signed a non-disclosure agreement with Intel and received initial access to the company’s 18AP process design kit.

Early modelling, covering performance-per-watt and other efficiency benchmarks, is progressing as expected, Kuo said.

The next step hinges on Intel releasing updated PDK versions — 1.0 and 1.1 — projected for the first quarter of 2026.

If development remains on schedule, Apple could begin sourcing low-end M-series processors from Intel sometime between the second and third quarter of 2027.

These entry-class chips underpin popular consumer devices, including the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro, with combined shipment volumes of roughly 20 million units anticipated this year.

While no agreement has been finalised and timelines remain fluid, Kuo noted that Apple’s willingness to engage at an advanced process level marks an important shift — particularly at a time when geopolitical considerations are increasingly shaping semiconductor supply chains.