The next iPhone chip may have a Samsung or Intel connection as Apple explores new partners

Apple has reportedly held early talks with Intel and visited Samsung Electronics's Texas chip plant as it looks beyond TSMC. The move comes as chip supply remains tight, with Apple looking to reduce risk by diversifying manufacturing.

In Short

• Apple is facing advanced chip shortages amid AI-led capacity pressure
• Tim Cook said supply flexibility is lower than Apple normally expects
• The crunch has affected Mac mini, Mac Studio and iPhone 17 Pro

Apple is exploring ways to reduce its reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), its long-time chip manufacturing partner. According to Bloomberg, the iPhone maker recently held early-stage discussions with Intel and Samsung Electronics about the possibility of manufacturing the main processors used in its devices, including the iPhone, iPad, MacBook and others.

Apple executives have reportedly visited Samsung’s upcoming chip facility in Texas, which is expected to produce advanced semiconductors, while also holding preliminary talks with Intel about its foundry services. Although the discussions remain exploratory and have not resulted in any confirmed orders so far.

Notably, these talks come at a time when Apple is facing continued pressure on chip supply. For over a decade, the company has designed its own systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) for the iPhone, iPad and Mac, while depending on TSMC for manufacturing using cutting-edge process nodes.

Current-generation devices across Apple Inc.’s ecosystem rely on 3-nanometre technology, which is also widely used for advanced AI chips. However, a surge in demand driven by AI data centres, along with stronger-than-expected demand for AI-capable Macs, has tightened global supply of chips for Apple.

During its recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook also acknowledged this strain, noting that the company has “less flexibility in the supply chain than we normally would”. He added that the primary bottleneck is access to advanced manufacturing nodes rather than memory, and that it could take several months for supply and demand to rebalance. The constraints have impacted products including the Mac mini, Mac Studio and the iPhone 17 Pro line-up.

While Apple appears to be exploring more manufacturing options within the US, replacing or even supplementing TSMC will not be straightforward. According to the report, the company has concerns about whether Intel and Samsung can match the scale, reliability and consistency of TSMC’s most advanced manufacturing processes.

Nevertheless, for Intel, securing Apple as a foundry customer would mark a major step in its efforts to expand its contract manufacturing business under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. It would also revive a long-standing relationship that began in 2006, before Apple transitioned its Macs to its own Apple Silicon chips around 2020. For Samsung, a potential deal would strengthen its position in advanced chip manufacturing, where it continues to trail TSMC despite having a well-established foundry business.

As for TSMC, Apple depends heavily on the company, with most of its advanced chip production based in Taiwan. If a deal with Intel and Samsung Electronics goes ahead, moving some production to the US could help Apple, reduce risks and support local chip manufacturing.

Apple is already working with TSMC’s Arizona facility and expects to source around 100 million chips from its Phoenix plant in 2026, though this will still meet only a small part of its overall demand.

- Ends