According to sources close to the matter, Apple is conducting exploratory discussions with Intel Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. regarding the production of central processing units for its devices.
This move indicates that Apple is actively seeking alternative supply sources to reduce its reliance on its long-time chipmaking partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).
Apple executives have held initial talks with Intel about using its chip manufacturing services. At the same time, company officials visited a state-of-the-art chip manufacturing plant being built by Samsung in Texas.
However, anonymous sources emphasized that the process of working with both suppliers is still in its preliminary stages and no orders have been signed yet.
Apple remains hesitant about technologies outside of TSMC and may not reach a final agreement with a new partner. Representatives from Apple, Intel, Samsung, and TSMC all declined to comment on the matter.
Apple's need to diversify its partners stems from the current supply chain disruptions. In last week's Q2 2026 earnings report, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that chip shortages for iPhones and Macs are hindering the company's growth. Cook shared that Apple's supply chain currently lacks the flexibility it once had.
The massive proliferation of AI data centers, coupled with soaring demand for Macs capable of running local AI models, has depleted the global chip supply.
Cook emphasized that the biggest challenge lies not in memory chips, but in the shortage of advanced manufacturing processes for system-on-a-chip (SoC). This is hindering the company from meeting market demand for the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and especially the iPhone 17 Pro series.
Apple anticipates it will take several more months to bring supply and demand back into balance, and is working to prevent the shortage from spreading to other product lines using the same chip, such as AirPods and Apple Watch.
For over a decade, Apple has designed its own SoC systems and relied entirely on TSMC for manufacturing using the most advanced processes in Taiwan (China), including the 3-nanometer process.
Although Apple and TSMC are working to expand production at their Arizona plant, aiming to supply 100 million chips by 2026, this number is still too small compared to the company's total annual shipments. Apple's leadership has long been concerned about the geopolitical risks of concentrating production in a single region.
However, finding a backup supplier is by no means easy. Neither Intel nor Samsung are currently able to achieve the scale and stability that TSMC has, a factor that has helped the Taiwanese company dominate the chip manufacturing market.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/apple-tim-kiem-nha-cung-cap-chip-du-phong-ngoai-tsmc-post1108661.vnp
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