Apple may be looking beyond TSMC for future chip production, and bro, this is one of those supply-chain stories that could quietly affect the iPhones, iPads, and Macs we actually buy in Malaysia.
According to a Bloomberg report cited by Tom's Hardware, Apple has held early discussions with Intel about producing processors. Some senior Apple executives have also reportedly visited a Samsung facility that is still being built, likely Samsung’s Taylor, Texas fab, which is expected to begin risk production this year.
Important caveat first: nothing is confirmed. The report says Apple has not placed orders with Intel or Samsung yet. These are still early-stage talks, not a done deal.
Why Apple is even considering this
Apple has relied heavily on TSMC for its most advanced chips for years. TSMC has been making iPhone processors since the A8 era, which powered the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. That partnership has been ridiculously strong, but the pressure on advanced chip production is getting real.
The big reason? AI demand.
Data centre and AI hardware companies are fighting for the same cutting-edge manufacturing capacity that Apple needs for its A-series and M-series chips. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said the company’s main bottleneck is not memory, but the availability of the advanced nodes used for its SoCs. He also suggested it could take months before supply and demand balance out.
Nvidia is a huge part of this new pressure. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said Nvidia has overtaken Apple as TSMC’s biggest customer, and even hinted that Apple may need to pay more for chips. That matters because when wafer capacity gets tight, everyone downstream feels it eventually — brands, distributors, retailers, and yes, consumers.
Intel and Samsung are not random choices
This would not be Apple suddenly gambling on strangers. Samsung built chips for the original iPhone through the iPhone 5S. Intel powered Macs from 2006 until Apple completed the move to its own Apple Silicon lineup in 2023.
So if Apple does move some chip production to Intel or Samsung, it would be more like reviving old relationships under very different circumstances.
Intel would love this. Its foundry business needs major customers, and landing Apple would be a massive confidence boost. Samsung would also benefit, since its foundry division remains behind TSMC in the global race.
For Apple, the logic is simple: relying too much on one supplier is risky. TSMC’s Arizona facility is ramping up and is estimated to produce 100 million chips for Apple this year, but that is still only part of Apple’s overall demand. Most of Apple’s advanced chips are still expected to come from Taiwan.
Why Malaysia and SEA readers should care
For Malaysian buyers, this is not about whether the next iPhone suddenly becomes cheaper in RM. Don’t expect that. Apple pricing here depends on many things — global costs, exchange rates, taxes, channel strategy, and local retail margins.
But chip supply can affect product availability, launch timing, and how quickly certain Mac or iPad configurations show up in stores. If supply stays tight, the higher-end models are usually the ones people watch closely: MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, iPad Pro, and Pro iPhones.
It also matters for SEA because we are a serious consumer tech market now, not just a side region. When Apple has limited stock globally, smaller markets often feel the squeeze through slower availability or fewer configuration options.
Even if Apple signs with Intel or Samsung soon, don’t expect instant impact. Chip production ramps slowly, especially at advanced nodes. Real consumer effects may take months, or even a couple of years, to show.
Still, this is a story worth watching. The AI boom is no longer just about GPUs and data centres. It is starting to reshape the supply chain behind the everyday devices we carry, game on, edit videos with, and save up for.
Source: Tom's Hardware