Could Intel’s latest moves signal a new chapter in its relationship with Apple?

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Apple and Intel used to work very closely together. Intel provided the processors that ran Apple’s Mac computers, and their relationship seemed strong for a long time.

The relationship between these companies actually began in the 1990s with a confidential project nicknamed “Star Trek,” which aimed to make the Mac operating system work with Intel processors. Although that initial effort wasn’t successful, Apple and Intel eventually partnered in 2005. At that year’s WWDC, Steve Jobs revealed Apple’s plan to switch from PowerPC to Intel processors, a move driven by Intel’s promising future technology and representing a significant change in Apple’s overall computing direction.

Now, years after their split, Intel appears to be seeking Apple’s help once again.

In 2006, Apple began using Intel processors in its Macs. Both the iMac and MacBook Pro initially featured Intel’s Core Duo processors, and by August, Apple had successfully switched its entire range of Mac computers to Intel.

The partnership seemed promising, but Apple was already thinking about the future. In 2008, they bought P.A. Semi for $278 million to create their own specialized chips for iPhones and other mobile devices. This was the beginning of Apple’s plan to eventually make fewer parts from outside companies.

In 2010, Apple launched the first iPad with its A4 processor – a 1GHz single-core chip. While basic at the time, this marked the beginning of significant advancements. By 2015 and 2016, with the release of the A9 series chips, tensions started to emerge in Apple’s relationship with Intel.

The relationship strain and the final break

Apple started seeking alternative options to fulfill its needs for LTE technology, and began working with Qualcomm. By 2018, Intel was finding it difficult to meet Apple’s increasingly high performance standards.

In 2019, Apple spent $1 billion to buy most of Intel’s smartphone modem business. This gave Apple more control over the parts that go into iPhones, and later in the year, Apple purchased Intel’s remaining modem business.

The turning point for Apple came in 2020 when they introduced the M1 chip. This was their first processor for Macs built on ARM technology, and it was a major advancement. The M1 proved so effective that Apple stopped using Intel processors in Macs altogether by 2021.

Investments offer hope for Intel’s future

Intel has faced challenges recently. From 2021 to 2024, they lost ground to AMD and weren’t a major player in the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, a field led by Nvidia. As a result, Intel’s stock price fell by over 30

Even Intel’s top executives acknowledge the company is facing challenges. Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner said Intel made a mistake with its Arrow Lake processors, and CEO Lip-Bu Tan cautioned that there aren’t any easy solutions to the issues Intel is currently experiencing.

Despite the challenges, there’s been significant investment in Intel recently. SoftBank put in $2 billion, the U.S. government purchased a 9.9

Bloomberg reports that Intel has reached out to Apple to explore a possible investment and partnership. While discussions are preliminary and a deal isn’t certain, this highlights Intel’s strong desire to strengthen its position for the future.

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2025-09-25 14:41