Apple has held “exploratory” discussions with Intel and Samsung about manufacturing the main processors for its devices in the United States, reports Bloomberg ($).
Apple has reportedly held preliminary discussions with Intel about using its chipmaking services, while Apple executives have reportedly visited a Samsung factory under construction in Texas that will also make advanced chips.
The talks are said to be preliminary and no orders have been taken so far, according to the report’s sources who asked to remain anonymous. Apple is also reportedly concerned about using technology that is not made by its longtime chip partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), so negotiations may go nowhere.
Apple is reportedly looking for additional potential suppliers beyond TSMC to avoid recent shortages, almost entirely due to current AI data center construction.
High demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio models – sought after due to their suitability for running local AI models – was also said to be another factor. During an earnings conference call last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that supply of Mac mini and Mac Studio was limited, and he said it could take Apple “several months” to reach balance between supply and demand.
Neither Intel nor Samsung can reliably deliver the kind of production and scale TSMC offers, so it’s unclear how much, if any, discussions will come out. Apple has already worked with TSMC to help it expand its Phoenix factory, which now produces a limited number of chips for Apple and plans to make 100 million chips for the company in 2026.