Apple holds talks with Intel, Samsung for possible US chipmaking

Apple has held early-stage talks with Intel and Samsung Electronics about potentially manufacturing the main processors used in its devices in the United States, according to a report published Monday.

The discussions are still exploratory and have not resulted in any production orders, but they signal Apple’s growing effort to reduce its dependence on longtime chipmaking partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.. 

Bloomberg reported that Apple executives recently visited Samsung’s advanced semiconductor plant under development in Texas, while also engaging Intel over the possible use of its foundry services.

Apple’s concerns reportedly center on supply-chain resilience as demand for advanced processors continues to rise. 

The company recently warned investors that chip shortages were still affecting output, particularly for the high-end processors powering the iPhone 17 family.

Any move away from TSMC would represent a major strategic shift for Apple, whose custom silicon has been almost entirely tied to the Taiwanese manufacturer’s cutting-edge production technology. 

However, sources familiar with the matter said Apple remains cautious about relying on non-TSMC fabrication due to concerns over manufacturing scale, yield reliability and performance consistency.

While no final decision has been made, the talks highlight Apple’s broader push to secure domestic chip capacity amid ongoing geopolitical and supply uncertainties.