Apple may turn to longtime frenemies to make chips in the U.S.

A report released by Bloomberg on Tuesday states that Apple is in “exploratory talks” with Intel and Samsung to produce chips in the U.S. However, the talks have yet to result in an actual deal between the companies, and the possibility remains that Apple may decide to abandon the idea.

Last December, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Intel could serve as a secondary chip supplier to Apple. Apple currently relies on TSMC for its chip manufacturing, but is interested in finding additional manufacturing options. However, Bloomberg states that Apple is concerned about using non-TSMC technology, which will affect the decision on whom to partner with.

Intel has struggled in the past few years as it has been slow to adjust to the shift in chip demand from CPUs to GPUs, and its own CISC chip technology has proven to be outdated as RISC-based chips by competitors have proven to provide better performance and efficiency. Intel is exploring the possibility of being a chip foundry for other companies, such as Apple, to expand its revenue streams. Samsung is also interested in growing its foundry operations.

The current supply chain problems have caused Apple to investigate options to alleviate the constraints. Finding another manufacturer is challenging, and Apple is concerned that Intel and Samsung “can’t reliably offer the type of production and scale” that TSMC provides, reports Bloomberg. Apple already sources several components, including displays and RAM, from Samsung.

Bloomberg also states that an Apple/Intel deal could also provide political benefits, since the current presidential administration views Intel “as a national champion.” Apple is currently working with TSMC to establish a plant in Arizona, which could provide Apple with 100 million chips annually.

During Apple’s Q2 2026 financial results announcement, CEO Tim Cook stated that “the primary constraint is the availability of the advanced nodes our SoCs are produced on, not memory,” which has resulted in short supply of devices, including the Mac mini. Cook stated that it could “take several months to reach supply/demand balance” and that the supply issues are not “going to end anytime soon.”