Report: Intel is Testing Production of Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac Chips

TSMC has been the exclusive supplier of Apple's systems-on-a-chip since 2016, but that 10-year streak could beryllium nearing its end.


Apple proviso concatenation expert Ming-Chi Kuo contiguous said that Intel has "kicked off" small-scale investigating of lower-end iPhone, iPad, and Mac spot fabrication, with accumulation expected to ramp up passim 2027 and 2028. Kuo did not bespeak precisely which of Apple's A-series and/or M-series chips would beryllium manufactured by Intel.

Apple is utilizing Intel's 18A process for these chips, and it is evaluating Intel's different advanced-node technologies, according to Kuo.

By sourcing chips from 2 suppliers, Apple tin negociate little costs and bolster supply. In this case, Apple rekindling a concern with Intel could triumph it favour with the Trump administration, which wants much U.S. manufacturing. However, Kuo said Taiwan's TSMC volition stay liable for much than 90% of Apple's spot supply.

There is nary denotation that Intel would play a relation successful designing the iPhone chips, with its engagement expected to beryllium strictly constricted to fabrication. That would disagree from the epoch of Intel Macs, which utilized Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture. Apple began transitioning distant from Intel processors successful Macs successful 2020.

All successful all, these would beryllium Apple-designed chips manufactured by Intel successful the U.S., for usage successful immoderate lower-end iPhone, iPad, and Mac models.

Apple's imaginable instrumentality to Intel has been reported by galore sources by this point, but an authoritative announcement has inactive yet to beryllium made.
This article, "Report: Intel is Testing Production of Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac Chips" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

Discuss this article successful our forums