Apple is exploring the possibility of collaborating with Intel and Samsung to produce the company’s main chips for its gadgets in the US, in order to avoid relying solely on TSMC, avoid political risks in relations between China and Taiwan, and please Donald Trump.
Apple is exploring the possibility of collaborating with Intel and Samsung to produce the company’s main chips for its gadgets in the US, in order to avoid relying solely on TSMC, avoid political risks in relations between China and Taiwan, and please Donald Trump.
According to Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman, the Cupertino company has held early talks with Intel about producing chips for Apple products.
In addition, Apple executives visited a Samsung factory under construction in Texas that will eventually produce advanced chips.
The publication writes that for more than a decade, Apple has relied on TSMC to create chips in Taiwan, but now faces the risk of supply chain disruptions, forcing Apple to consider options for additional suppliers.
Meanwhile, for Intel, finding new large external customers is a key element of the company’s recovery plan under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Moreover, Intel already developed and supplied processors for Macs from 2006 until around 2020. Incidentally, Samsung was also Apple’s manufacturing partner for iPhone chips more than a decade ago.
Negotiations with both companies began even before the shortage arose. The publication emphasizes that there is another potential advantage for Apple to cooperate with Intel — this partnership could help Apple’s relations with the Donald Trump administration, as the White House acted as a mediator in the investment in Intel and «took patronage» of the company.
In addition, production in Taiwan carries special risks, as China considers the island as part of its territory and the risk of military action constantly hangs over relations between the two states.
Apple has been working closely with TSMC to help it expand production in Phoenix, US, where the supplier currently produces a limited number of chips for Apple at a single factory, but it is not enough.
As we wrote earlier, Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO of Apple after 15 years at the helm of the company.
