Story perspectives

Apple eyes Intel, Samsung chips as shortages threaten growth

5/5/2026

Summary

Apple Pursues New Processors

Apple is holding talks with Intel and Samsung to source its main processors.
Apple has placed no orders yet because it doubts non-TSMC technology can meet its needs.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said chip shortages are limiting iPhone and Mac growth.
Apple expects 100 million chips from Intel’s Arizona plant in 2026.
Cook warned the supply gap may last months.

Summary

Apple Visits Samsung

Apple visited Samsung’s under-construction Texas fab, signaling a shift toward U.S. chip production.
The Texas plant could create hundreds of high-tech jobs and expand U.S. semiconductor capacity if Apple signs a deal.
Apple worries that non-TSMC technology may lack reliability and scale for iPhone 17 chips, which use a TSMC-derived process.
Apple is in preliminary talks with Intel to assess U.S.-based chipmaking as an additional supply source.

Summary

Apple Consolidates Hardware

Apple merged its hardware engineering and technologies teams under new Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji, splitting the division into five groups, including a Silicon team led by Sri Santhanam.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Apple could validate Intel’s nascent foundry push, while Samsung Electronics still trails TSMC, making an Apple contract a boost.
The United States government’s equity stake in Intel adds a public-policy dimension to any potential Apple-Intel agreement.

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Apple Pursues New Processors

Apple is holding talks with Intel and Samsung to source its main processors.
Apple has placed no orders yet because it doubts non-TSMC technology can meet its needs.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said chip shortages are limiting iPhone and Mac growth.
Apple expects 100 million chips from Intel’s Arizona plant in 2026.
Cook warned the supply gap may last months.

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