Apple once shared a strong partnership with Intel before changing course. The company later decided to move away from the chipmaker and build its own silicon for MacBooks. That shift marked a major turning point in Apple’s hardware strategy.
At the same time, Apple built a new relationship with TSMC in 2014. The Taiwanese firm began by producing the Apple A8 chip. Since then, TSMC has remained Apple’s only chip supplier.
Now, Apple appears ready to rethink that approach. Several reports suggest the company wants to reduce its reliance on TSMC. This plan has been under consideration for some time. However, recent supply chain disruptions have added pressure. The global chip shortage, driven partly by growing AI data centers, has made the issue more urgent.
Apple even addressed this concern during its latest earnings call. The company admitted that depending on a single supplier could create risks in the future. As a result, it has started exploring alternatives.
Apple is currently in early talks with Intel and Samsung. These discussions are still at an initial stage. However, they signal a clear shift in strategy. In fact, senior Apple executives have already visited Samsung’s Texas factory. This facility is expected to begin producing advanced chips soon.
This move follows a recent internal change at Apple. The company merged its hardware engineering and hardware technologies teams. Johny Srouji, Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer, now leads the combined group. This restructuring aims to improve efficiency and strengthen hardware development.
Despite these efforts, Apple faces a major challenge. It needs a manufacturing partner that can deliver chips at scale. Consistent production quality is also critical. So far, only TSMC has met these strict requirements.
As a result, both Intel and Samsung must improve their capabilities. They need to match Apple’s expectations in performance and reliability. Only then can they secure future chip orders from the tech giant.
