New Delhi, May 19 -- Apple's reported chipmaking agreement with Intel could become one of the most consequential semiconductor stories of 2026, not because it instantly replaces TSMC, but because it gives Apple something it has rarely had in advanced chips: a credible second path.

According to reports, Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary understanding for Intel to manufacture some Apple-designed processors in the United States. The deal is still early, but its strategic meaning is already clear. Apple wants to reduce concentration risk in a supply chain heavily tied to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Intel wants proof that its foundry comeback can attract the world's most demanding technology customers.

For Apple, the...