TSMC has been the exclusive supplier of Apple's systems-on-a-chip since 2016, but that 10-year streak could be nearing its end. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said that Intel has "kicked off" small-scale testing of lower-end iPhone, iPad, and Mac chip fabrication, with production expected to ramp up throughout 2027 and 2028. Kuo did not indicate exactly which of Apple's A-series and/or M-series chips would be manufactured by Intel. Apple is utilizing Intel's 18A process for these chips, and it is evaluating Intel's other advanced-node technologies, according to Kuo. By sourcing chips from two suppliers, Apple can negotiate lower costs and bolster supply. In this case, Apple rekindling a partnership with Intel could win it favor with the Trump administration, which wants more U.S. manufacturing. However, Kuo said Taiwan's TSMC will remain responsible for more than 90% of Apple's chip supply. There is no indication that Intel would play a role in designing the iPhone chips, with its involvement expected to be strictly limited to fabrication. That would differ from the era of Intel Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture. Apple began transitioning away from Intel processors in Macs in 2020. All in all, these would be Apple-designed chips manufactured by Intel in the U.S., for use in some lower-end iPhone, iPad, and Mac models. Apple's potential return to Intel has been reported by numerous sources by this point, but an official announcement has still yet to be made. Tags: Intel , Ming-Chi Kuo This article, " Report: Intel is Testing Production of Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac Chips " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Last year, accessory maker Nimble came out with the Wally Stretch power adapters, and they've become some of my favorite charging options. The Wally Stretch is available in 35W and 65W options, and it has an excellent design. It's a simple cube with prongs that fold down, a retractable USB-C cable, and an extra USB-C port. The 65W model that I tested is thicker than the comparable 70W Apple charger, but it's smaller in length and width. Nimble's charger is just about two inches all around, and it looks like a block. While Nimble sells the 35W charger in black and the 65W charger in white, Apple offers 65W Wally Stretch in better colors . It comes in teal with a yellow accent and a gold-topped cable, along with deep purple with a pink accent and a silver-topped cable. I'm a big fan of any charger that's not your standard black or white, and I use the Wally Stretch chargers with my desktop power strip. The retractable USB-C cable measures in at two feet, which is a great length for desktop use. It's also worked well for traveling between locations, and two feet seems to be an all-around useful length. Some people prefer much longer cables, and there aren't options with the Wally, which is a downside. There is, however, an extra USB-C port at the bottom where a longer cable can be plugged in if desired. 65W is enough for me to power even a 16-inch MacBook Pro when it's not under heavy load, and it's more than sufficient for my MacBook Air , iPad Pro , and iPhone. Even when charging two of the latter three devices at the same time, I get fast charging. A retractable cable paired with an extra USB-C port all in a small package makes the Wally Stretch one of my most flexible power adapters. I would pick it over a standard Apple charger in all situations, and over many third-party chargers. The only situation where I reach for something else is when I need more than two ports or higher watts, but that doesn't happen too often. I think the only thing that would make the Wally Stretch better is an XL version with two retractable cables and 140W. Nimble also makes power banks that I like a lot, again because they come in colors other than your standard black or white. The Nimble 10k Champ Portable Charger I tested is teal with yellow accents, and it has some design elements I've found useful. It's small, and it tucks nicely into a pocket or a bag. It has a lanyard, which is a feature that I find surprisingly useful for a power bank. I can always track it down in my backpack, and I can put it around my wrist when I'm charging my iPhone with a short cable. I wouldn't have thought a lanyard would make a difference, but I have a decent selection of power banks, and I always pick the ones with the lanyard first when I need one. The Nimble Champ is 3.4 inches long, 2.3 inches wide, and under an inch thick, plus it's lightweight at six ounces. There's a yellow button on the front that can be pressed to see remaining power level, which is reflected via four LED dots. That's standard for power banks, and it's fine. Some power banks have a little LED display that shows exact level, and I do prefer the more exact readout, but it's not a make-or-break feature. There are two USB-C ports for charging an iOS device or for charging the power bank, and while it does come with an included USB-C cable, I wish it was a color-matched cable instead of a plain cable. A power bank designed to stand out with a bright color should have a cable that goes along with it, but I do understand the plain cable choice because it keeps costs lower. Nimble's power bank is $60, which makes it reasonably priced. I have an Anker Nano power bank with a lanyard and a retractable cable and it is the one that I love the most. Nimble Champ is my second pick, just because I like integrated cables that don't require me to hunt down a cable and that don't result in excess cable I don't need. Nimble does actually have an updated version with a retractable cable and an exact readout of charging capacity, but it's more expensive at $80. This is a 10K power bank, so it has enough power to charge an iPhone 17 Pro Max from 0 to 100 and then some, but it is limited to 20W fast charging. Apple's iPhone 17 models charge to 50 percent in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, so you're not going to get maximum charging speeds with the Nimble Champ. I probably wouldn't choose the Nimble Champ in a situation where you need to optimize for the fastest possible charging for an ‌iPhone 17‌, but it's great if charging that's a bit slower isn't an issue. Bottom Line Nimble's Wally is a useful power adapter for everything from the Mac to the iPhone, and the retractable cable is super convenient. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a power adapter for desktop or travel use. The Nimble Champ is a budget-friendly power bank that's brightly colored and slim enough to carry in a pocket. It's a good pick as long as you don't need the fastest USB-C charging. How to Buy Nimble's 65W Wally Chargers can be purchased from the Nimble website for $42, but you can get the colorful versions from Apple for $60. The 10K Nimble Champ Charger is $60 from Nimble or from Apple . This article, " Nimble Wally Stretch Review: A Colorful Charger With a Retractable USB-C Cable " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based conversational apps. This means that chatbots can extend their iPhone apps to CarPlay for voice-based conversations, and OpenAI's ChatGPT is one of the first options available . With the ChatGPT app on CarPlay, you can have voice conversations with ChatGPT while the app is open, and view the titles of your past conversations. For safety reasons, the app does not show the text or images within conversations. Other chatbots that recently came to CarPlay include Perplexity and Grok . Google Meet Google Meet is now available on CarPlay as well, allowing you to join meetings with a single tap, view your upcoming schedule, and participate in audio calls. For safety reasons, you cannot view video calls on the CarPlay interface. WhatsApp A revamped WhatsApp app for CarPlay is now available . WhatsApp already supported CarPlay, but the original app provided limited Siri-based functionality. The revamped app displays lists of recent chats and phone calls, and there is also a tab that displays a list of your favorite contacts. Audiomack Audiomack recently expanded to CarPlay . The 8th-most downloaded app in the App Store's Music category in the U.S. lets you stream and download songs, with a focus on independent artists and especially the Afrobeats and hip-hop genres. Audiomack's CarPlay app has Discover, Charts, Playlists, and My Library tabs, allowing you to listen to your existing songs and discover new ones. Related Roundup: CarPlay Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology This article, " Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
