Intel and Apple Already in Talks Over ARM-Based Chips for Future iOS Devices

[MacRumors]

Intel's new licensing deal allowing it to manufacture ARM-based chips for smartphones could win over Apple as a customer in as little as two years, placing pressure on current A-series chip manufacturer TSMC, according to Nikkei Asian Review.

The report cited analysts that believe Intel could supply Apple with at least a portion of tentatively named A12 chips for iPhones in 2018, following reports that TSMC will be the sole supplier of A10 and A11 chips for iPhones in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

"TSMC could face tough competition as soon as 2018 or 2019 as Intel is likely to gain orders from Apple by then," Samuel Wang, a veteran semiconductor analyst at research company Gartner, told the Nikkei Asian Review. "Intel has begun to engage with Apple and it aims to grab one or two top-tier customers from TSMC."

The switch to Intel may not have significant implications for iPhone users, but it provides Apple with an opportunity to secure the best manufacturing deal and technologies available. Intel's foundries will manufacture ARM-based smartphone chips based on a 10-nanometer process, which TSMC is also moving towards. The move could also shift at least a portion of A-series chip production to the United States, which could help create new jobs on the company's home turf.

"Intel is definitely the most formidable challenger for TSMC," a senior Taiwanese chip industry executive said. "There is no rivalry between Apple and Intel so it's really likely that Apple could shift some orders there. The move is also in line with Washington's policy to encourage U.S. companies to make more products at home."

Intel is also expected to supply modems for select iPhone 7 models, including AT&T versions and some international models sold in other countries, as Apple lessens its dependance on existing supplier Qualcomm.

Article Link: Intel and Apple Already in Talks Over ARM-Based Chips for Future iOS Devices

 

[bpcookson]

Smart move for Intel, and gives Apple leverage. Good news all around.

 

[SandboxGeneral]

I could even see Intel offering Apple a package deal by taking on the ARM division in that Intel already supplies chips for Mac's. Kind of like a two-for-one deal.

 

[TigerWoodsIV]

Not really sure how this would affect the end user much, but if it works out like the article suggests, I wouldn't argue with bringing some more jobs back to the US.

And of course seems like a potential win for Apple and Intel.

 

[DCINKC]

Let the complaining begin...

 

[needfx]

imagine an "intel inside" decal on your phone

 

[Koodauw]

Intel has been one of the best things to happen to Apple mobile computers. The PowerPC days were extremely painful. Intel was far ahead of Moto and IBM in those days, and Apple seems to have pretty good custom chips as is, but if Intel manufactured chips have 1/2 of the same impact, the potential for new iPhones would be something to see.

 

[macduke]

We're currently on the A9, and we're already talking about the A12. Good grief!

 

[maflynn]

imagine an "intel inside" decal on your phone

Why?

Its not like we see that on our Macs now.

 

[vertical smile]

The move could also shift at least a portion of A-series chip production to the United States, which could help create new jobs on the company's home turf.

Sounds good to me.

I wonder if there will be a TSMC vs Intel issue like there was with TSMC vs Samsung?

I think I remember most posts prior to the A9 release saying they would prefer Samsung over TSMC.

But, later the TSMC was a better performer by a little bit.

 

[macduke]

It was pretty obvious that Apple was going to talk to them about it at some point. Apple really needs to diversify their chip production as well as reduce reliance on competitors such as Samsung. It will be interesting to see if this turns into anything in the long run for possible macOS/iOS hybrid devices, or simply arm-based Macs in general. Intel could certainly take things in an interesting direction.

 

[BeefCake 15]

My gut tells me this has a hint of ARM in Macs

 

[GrumpyMom]

If Apple dual sources it's chips once again, just please let the Intel and TSMC chips all perform exactly the same and give exactly the same battery life or the forum will once again be clogged with people outraged that they have whichever chip is perceived to be the lesser performer.

 

[CFreymarc]

If Intel believed Steve Jobs about anticipated production volume from the beginning, they would have had XScale devices on the iPhone from the start. Better late than never.

 

[0004838]

Intel has been one of the best things to happen to Apple mobile computers. The PowerPC days were extremely painful. Intel was far ahead of Moto and IBM in those days

I don't recall it being that way myself. The only stumbling block was the lack of progress on a portable G5 that eventually led to the transition to x86. The snag was that spec-focused buyers struggled to reconcile the difference in clock speeds between Motorola and x86 chips, tending to assume the higher-clocked x86s must be better performers.

 

[soupcan]

Now not only Intel Macs will be delayed but the A-series cips as well. Yay!













And if you don't get the sarcasm involved here what are you even doing on the internet.

 

[keysofanxiety]

imagine an "intel inside" decal on your phone

People were worried about the same thing happening when Apple moved to Intel computers. Luckily it didn't happen!

 

[macintoshi]

If Apple dual sources it's chips once again, just please let the Intel and TSMC chips all perform exactly the same and give exactly the same battery life or the forum will once again be clogged with people outraged that they have whichever chip is perceived to be the lesser performer.

Yes that meight be, intel to eat more battery life, and again we will laugh about it

 

[macduke]

imagine an "intel inside" decal on your phone

Hah, this just sent me on a trip down memory lane…

I remember the first computer I built was a 1.5GHz Pentium 4 in early high school. I ordered it as an OEM tray from TigerDirect to save some money (back when you would still order computer parts through the mail from a magazine). The trays didn't come with stickers, and I was disappointed, so I found some for cheap on eBay and ordered them. I proudly stuck that on the front so I could brag to all my friends since Pentium 4s were still fairly new. That machine was such a piece though. The motherboard was glitchy as hell, and the power supply was also crap.

Let's just say I've changed a lot since then—and also since 2005, when I built my second machine, which was a huge tower with an LED window, a heat sink shaped like a jet engine, and blue LEDs everywhere. *FACEPALM* However I'm still proud of that cable management though, lol. To this day I regret that it took me until 2008 to get my first Mac. I really loved using them in school, but I was so entrenched in Windows stuff. Bootcamp won me over, and eventually I didn't need it any more.

 

[till]

Intel has the most advanced manufacturing processes in the business, and Apple has been doing great things with mobile chip designs. Good combination.

 

[Cineplex]

Not really sure how this would affect the end user much, but if it works out like the article suggests, I wouldn't argue with bringing some more jobs back to the US.

And of course seems like a potential win for Apple and Intel.

Something tells me the chips are not going to be made here.

 

[XMZ-250]

Who knows maybe the future iPhones and especially iPads with an intel ARM-chip might someday run full desktop programs.

 

[AirunJae]

imagine an "intel inside" decal on your phone

As I long as I can take it off and use it as a sticker, I'm totally cool. Although it kinda gives me those nostalgia vibes at the moment, so it might cool to have a very small logo underneath the "Designed by Apple in California" text on the back.

 

[ka-spot]

intel and apple has to talk about the new Macbook Pro's

 

[recoil80]

imagine an "intel inside" decal on your phone

Instead of the stainless steel Apple? Done!

I wonder if they'll chose Intel only or they'll have two chip makers like Samsung and TSMC for the A9