Intel has introduced 18A-P, the latest version of its most advanced chipmaking process, and the early numbers point to meaningful gains for the chips built on it.
According to OnMSFT, 18A-P debuts with a feature Intel calls Power Boost, built around new "dual-contact" transistors. The company says the technology delivers 9% higher performance, 18% lower power consumption, and improved thermal efficiency compared with the previous generation. In plain terms: chips made this way should run faster while drawing less electricity and generating less heat — a combination that matters for everything from laptops and data centers to AI accelerators.
The second piece of the story is about business, not just physics. According to MacDailyNews, Intel has launched production of the 18A-P node, a step that it reports moves the company closer to a potential foundry deal with Apple. Apple currently relies heavily on outside manufacturing for its custom chips, so any arrangement to have Intel produce them would be a notable shift.
Why this matters: For years, Intel has trailed rivals in cutting-edge chip manufacturing, and its push to win outside customers — becoming a "foundry" that builds chips for other companies — depends on proving its newest processes are both advanced and reliable. A transistor that boosts speed while cutting power is exactly the kind of result Intel needs to make that case, and landing a marquee client like Apple would be powerful validation that its comeback strategy is working.