Apple Chips: Reports of US manufacturing by Intel and even Samsung emerge again
Apple has long been looking for alternatives to its sole manufacturer TSMC. Now, Intel and even Samsung were apparently on the shortlist again.
Apple A19: Year after year, there are new chips for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
(Image: Apple)
Apple continues to put all its eggs in one basket when it comes to chips: nothing works without the Taiwanese contract manufacturer TSMC. While it is now also setting up a larger manufacturing facility in the US for older generation SoCs, another producer would be extremely helpful for Apple Silicon, which is used in Macs, iPhones, and iPads. According to a report by the financial news agency Bloomberg, there have now been at least “preliminary” talks with the provider Intel – as well as, surprisingly, alleged interest in Samsung's foundry services. However, according to the report, there are neither orders nor concrete work beyond early preparatory measures. Apple managers are said to have visited a Samsung factory in Texas, among other places, where “advanced chips” are manufactured.
Samsung used to be a chip manufacturer for Apple
Apple might be interested in Intel's 14A process, but could also use the negotiations to gain a better standing in talks with TSMC about expanding US manufacturing. It remains unclear where exactly Samsung could help. However, Apple had its first A-chips (from the A4 in the iPhone 4 to the A7 in the iPhone 5S) manufactured by the South Koreans. Since 2014 (from the A8 onwards), however, TSMC has been working for Apple, which is a global leader.
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Apple already has a major dependency on Samsung: OLED displays for numerous iPhone generations and probably also the foldable screens for the upcoming “iPhone Ultra” come from the company. Recently, there have been increasing reports that Samsung could produce its own image sensors for Apple, intended for the iPhone, to replace (or supplement) Sony own image sensors for Apple.
Cook wants more flexibility in the supply chain
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently admitted that the company currently has less flexibility in the supply chain for components like chips, RAM, and NANDs than usual. For example, Apple had to remove the entry-level model of the Mac mini from its product line.
Intel and Apple were partners for the Mac for many years; between 2006 and 2020, the company was the most important CPU and often GPU supplier. With Apple Silicon, Apple has gradually phased out x86 chips; with macOS 27, they will no longer be supported starting this year.
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