Apple device – Misryoum reports Apple has opened preliminary talks with Intel and Samsung to diversify key chip supply beyond TSMC.
Apple’s chip supply strategy is reportedly getting a serious shake-up. with Misryoum noting that the company has held early discussions with Intel and Samsung about making its “main device chips.” The goal. according to the reporting. is to reduce how dependent Apple remains on a single manufacturing partner.
For roughly a decade. Apple has leaned heavily on TSMC to build the system-on-chips that power iPhones and iPads. with newer Macs also depending on the same ecosystem.. Misryoum says Apple is said to be uncomfortable with single-supplier risk. a concern that leadership has highlighted in public remarks about supply-chain flexibility.. Those worries have only intensified as global chip constraints have shifted capacity toward faster-growing technology categories.
Even as Apple continues to use TSMC for most of its processor needs, the company is exploring alternatives to avoid future disruptions. This kind of diversification matters because chip production is a long, complex process, and time lost during shortages can quickly ripple across device launches.
Misryoum reports that Apple’s discussions are still preliminary, with no orders placed yet.. The company is said to have reached out to Intel and also toured a Samsung chip facility currently being developed in Texas.. The timing suggests Apple is testing how feasible it would be to expand beyond the current manufacturing pipeline.
At the same time, Apple’s chip planning remains closely tied to advanced manufacturing nodes.. Misryoum indicates that Apple is expected to rely on TSMC’s 2nm process for its A20 and A20 Pro processors tied to the iPhone 18 line.. Any chips made by other partners would likely be aimed at products arriving later. with the exact device lineup still unclear.
For Apple, this comes down to more than just availability. The company’s stated concern is also about whether chips built on non-TSMC processes would meet its expectations, which could affect whether Intel- or Samsung-made designs ever move from talks to actual production.
Meanwhile, both Intel and Samsung face their own challenges in the race toward cutting-edge chip manufacturing.. Misryoum reports that Intel has been working on advanced process roadmaps. while Samsung has marketed its own progress in mobile chips. including claims around 2nm-class development.. Still. the broader context is that both have struggled in the past with the transition to smaller. more efficient designs. including issues that can involve yields and thermal performance.
If Apple ultimately broadens its chip manufacturing base, the ripple effects could reach far beyond Apple’s supply chain.. It would reshape competitive pressure in advanced semiconductor manufacturing at a moment when device makers want faster. more resilient production lines without betting everything on one foundry.