Apple Held Exploratory Talks With Intel, Samsung About U.S. Chip Production, Report Says

Apple has held exploratory discussions with Intel and Samsung about producing the main processors for its devices in the United States, according to a May 5 Bloomberg report, a development that sent Intel shares sharply higher even though there is no public confirmation of a signed deal or any chip orders.

Intel stock rallied on the report. Shares reached an intraday high of $110.48 on May 5, closed at $108.15 and finished the session up 12.92%, according to historical market data from StockAnalysis. The move underscored how strongly investors reacted to the possibility that Apple could eventually become a foundry customer for Intel, which has been trying to expand its contract chipmaking business.

What Bloomberg reported, however, was narrower than some online chatter suggested. Bloomberg said “Apple Inc. has held exploratory discussions about using Intel Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. to produce the main processors for its devices in the US.” Follow-up coverage from MacRumors, summarizing Bloomberg, said the talks were preliminary and that “no orders have been made so far.” That is a materially different claim from saying Apple and Intel have reached a manufacturing deal.

There also was no public evidence in the sourced reporting of a signed or executed agreement between Apple and Intel, and no deal-related SEC filing tied to the report. That distinction matters because the market response appeared to run ahead of the verified facts.

For Apple, any shift would be notable because the company’s main device processors have for years been manufactured almost entirely by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC. Apple designs its own chips used in iPhones, iPads and Macs, while relying on outside manufacturers to produce them. A future arrangement with Intel or Samsung in the U.S. would represent supply-chain diversification, not a return to the old model in which Apple used Intel-designed CPUs in Macs.

For Intel, even exploratory talks with Apple would carry strategic weight. The company has spent years trying to build credibility in its foundry business, which means manufacturing chips designed by other companies. The prospect of Apple as a future customer helps explain why investors treated the Bloomberg report as a potential vote of confidence in that effort.

Samsung’s inclusion is also important. The discussions were not framed as a one-company negotiation with Intel alone, but as Apple exploring multiple options beyond TSMC. And while some coverage has pointed to possible production in roughly 18 months, that is not a confirmed company timeline. MacRumors cited analyst forecasts from Ming-Chi Kuo pointing to possible Intel-made entry-level M-series chips in 2027 and from Jeff Pu discussing possible non-Pro iPhone chips in 2028. Those are analyst projections, not guidance from Apple or Intel.

As of the sourced reporting, neither Apple nor Intel had publicly confirmed a deal. What is verified is that Apple has discussed possible U.S. chip production with both Intel and Samsung — and that investors quickly priced in much more than that.