--- title: "Apple is considering having Intel and Samsung manufacture equipment processors" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/285146523.md" description: "Apple Inc. is considering outsourcing the production of its main device processors to Intel and Samsung to open up a second supply channel and reduce its reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor. Although negotiations with the two companies are still in the preliminary stages, Apple executives have expressed concerns about the chip shortage issue, believing it affects the company's growth. Intel and Samsung have not yet reached the production capacity and technical level of Taiwan Semiconductor, and the challenge of finding alternative suppliers remains" datetime: "2026-05-05T02:55:37.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/285146523.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/285146523.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/285146523.md) --- # Apple is considering having Intel and Samsung manufacture equipment processors Apple Inc. has begun preliminary discussions to have its main device processors produced by Intel and Samsung Electronics, aiming to open a second supply channel beyond its long-term partner Taiwan Semiconductor. According to informed sources, the iPhone and iPad manufacturer has engaged in early talks with Intel to explore the use of its chip manufacturing services; meanwhile, Apple executives have inspected Samsung's under-construction factory in Texas (which will produce advanced chips). The aforementioned sources stated that no orders have been finalized for either collaboration, and discussions with both suppliers are still in the preliminary stages. Due to the confidential nature of the negotiations, the sources requested anonymity. They added that Apple has concerns about adopting non-Taiwan Semiconductor technology and may ultimately not add new partners. Spokespersons for Apple, Intel, Samsung, and Taiwan Semiconductor declined to comment. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously stated that the company's device processors are facing supply shortages. For over a decade, Apple has independently designed the core processors for its devices (i.e., system-on-chip SoC) and relied on Taiwan Semiconductor's manufacturing processes. The latest iPhone and Mac models utilize a 3-nanometer manufacturing process. However, even Apple (one of the world's largest chip purchasers) cannot avoid the risks of supply chain disruptions. The recent chip shortage is primarily due to the large-scale expansion of AI data centers and the unexpectedly high demand for Macs capable of running AI models locally. This highlights the necessity for Apple to seek additional suppliers. During last week's quarterly earnings call, Apple executives discussed this issue, stating that the chip shortages for iPhone and Mac are constraining the company's growth. Tim Cook remarked, "Current supply chain flexibility is below normal levels." However, finding alternative suppliers is not an easy task. Intel and Samsung currently cannot provide stable capacity and manufacturing processes at the level of Taiwan Semiconductor—Taiwan Semiconductor has become the dominant global custom chip foundry and is one of Apple's core supply chain partners. For Intel, securing external chip foundry customers is a key part of CEO Lip-Bu Tan's revival plan. After several unsuccessful attempts, its foundry business is still in the early stages of customer acquisition. Securing an order from Apple would be a significant victory for Tan and could help attract more new business. While Samsung is more mature in the foundry field, it still cannot match Taiwan Semiconductor, maintaining its position as the second-largest player in the global foundry market. As a competitor in areas such as smartphones, securing an order from Apple would bring significant benefits to Samsung Apple and Intel have a deep and tumultuous relationship: from 2006 to 2020, Intel designed and supplied processors for the Mac; starting in 2020, Apple switched its entire Mac lineup to self-developed chips based on iPad components. Over a decade ago, Samsung also provided foundry services for Apple’s iPhone chips. Discussions with the two companies began before the current chip shortage. In addition to ensuring supply, collaborating with Intel may help improve Apple’s relationship with the Trump administration (according to some executives). Last year, the U.S. government injected capital into Intel, viewing it as a benchmark enterprise in the national chip industry. Apple previously stated that Samsung has been providing more peripheral components (such as power management chips) for the iPhone and other products. Apple has consistently insisted that core components be supplied by at least two suppliers to maintain pricing power and avoid the risk of supply disruption from a single supplier. For example, the screens in its product line are supplied by multiple manufacturers. As early as the 2022 all-hands meeting, Cook told employees: “Regardless of personal opinions, having 60% of chip capacity concentrated in a single region is not a strategically secure layout.” Subsequently, Apple has closely collaborated with Taiwan Semiconductor to expand its Phoenix factory. The factory is currently producing chips for Apple on a small scale, with capacity rapidly ramping up; Apple expects to receive 100 million chips from the Arizona factory by 2026. Like other tech companies, Apple is also facing a shortage of memory chips, but Cook stated that the current core bottleneck is the insufficient supply of main processors (SoC). He mentioned in the earnings call: “The core constraint is the lack of advanced process capacity for SoCs, rather than a shortage of memory chips.” This has led to a supply shortage for products like the Mac mini and Mac Studio. He anticipates: “It will take several months to restore supply-demand balance.” Supply chain issues are also affecting the iPhone 17 Pro series. Apple’s operations team is working hard to prevent shortages from spreading to product lines like AirPods and Apple Watch (whose processors are different from those in the iPhone and Mac) ### Related Stocks - [AAPL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPL.US.md) - [SSNGY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SSNGY.US.md) - [INTC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/INTC.US.md) - [TSM.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSM.US.md) - [SMSN.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SMSN.UK.md) - [AAPU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPU.US.md) - [AAPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPX.US.md) - [SOXX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SOXX.US.md) - [AAPB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPB.US.md) - [TSMU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSMU.US.md) - [TSMX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSMX.US.md) - [XSD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XSD.US.md) - [SOXL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SOXL.US.md) - [TSMG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TSMG.US.md) - [SMH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SMH.US.md) - [INTW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/INTW.US.md) - [AAPD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPD.US.md) - [AAPY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPY.US.md) - [APLY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APLY.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Intel Stock Just Set New Record Highs Again. 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