Apple is reportedly exploring the possibility of using US-manufactured chips from Intel and Samsung to power its iPhones and other devices.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based firm has long relied on chips made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC. But steep competition for chips in the AI race — and tensions between China and Taiwan — have prompted Apple to step up its efforts to diversity its supply chain.
Apple and Intel have held “early-stage talks” about a potential partnership, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Apple executives also have visited a Samsung plant in Texas, which is still under construction but will eventually produced chips.
The Post has reached out to Apple for comment.
Intel shares spiked nearly 14% on the report and hit a fresh record high of more than $109 following the report. The company’s stock has risen more than 175% since the start of the year.
Apple’s stock was up nearly 1.5%.
In the past, Apple has been reluctant to switch from TSMC chips due to concerns that reliability would suffer. It’s also unlikely that Intel or Samsung would be able to match the scale of TSMC’s manufacturing capabilities in the near future.
Sources told Bloomberg that Apple has not yet placed any orders with Intel or Samsung and said it may still decide to stick solely with TSMC.
Apple crushed Wall Street’s expectations in its second-quarter earnings report last week, though executives acknowledged the company was contending with shortages of key products like MacBooks and iPhones.
During the company’s earnings call, CEO Tim Cook – who is set to transition to an executive chairman role on Sept. 1 – told analysts that Apple had “less flexibility in the supply chain than we normally would.”
Apple’s flagship iPhone 17 lineup utilizes that same TSMC chips that are required for AI.
