Apple might have exclusive on Intel's 28W 'Ice Lake' processors

Credit: Intel

Although there have been widespread rumors that Apple will switch to a first-party, ARM-based chip for its MacBook lineup, it looks like Apple's relationship with Intel isn't suffering in the short term.

As was first spotted by NotebookCheck, Intel's Core i7-1068G7 has been removed from the company's ARK database.

The chipmaker seems to have replaced that chip with the Core i7-1068NG7 SKU, the 10nm, 28-watt processor found in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, as well as a new Core i5-1038NG67 chip.

Per NotebookCheck and Geekbench results, the "N" designation in the moniker is reserved for Apple-exclusive chips. In other words, Intel now appears to be marking certain 28W Ice Lake processors as chips unique to Apple notebooks.