Gurman states the obvious re: fabs for Apple chips

[Cmaier]

Yes, I’m sure they are always talking to other fabs.

But of course he Gurman-proofed his rumor with the last sentence.

 

[Cmaier]

Here’s a link to the paywall-removed article.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-05/apple-explores-using-intel-and-samsung-to-build-main-device-chips-in-the-us?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3Nzk1MDI5OCwiZXhwIjoxNzc4NTU1MDk4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJURUlaUTlLSkg2VjUwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwRDY3MzVDNzE2NkE0OUEzQTQxNEZDMEE4NTA0RUM5MiJ9.cIIOQufZi13ZPk71Hu10rikJ0OZRnA70ChtwM9KcO9c&leadSource=uverify%20wall

 

[mr_roboto]

Yes, I’m sure they are always talking to other fabs.

Yeah, this rumor amounts to 'water is wet', doesn't it?

I wouldn't be shocked if Apple already makes some of their lower tech chips in other fabs. TSMC has all the main SoCs, obviously, but Apple designs a lot of silicon in-house right now. Power management ICs, chips for peripherals like AirTags, that kind of thing. Most of that doesn't need to be anywhere near a cutting edge logic node, and would be a great way to keep business and technical relationships open with other fabs.

If Gurman wanted to make up something truly shocking (to people in the industry, anyways), he should've reported that Apple had not talked to anybody but TSMC for years.

 

[Cmaier]

And here’s 9to5mac not getting the point (they seem to be getting dumber lately):

Three takeouts from the Apple chip report, with one worrying prospect

Bloomberg yesterday reported that Apple has been in discussion with both Intel and Samsung regarding future production of its device...

9to5mac.com

They are worried about identical chips from different fabs not performing the same. The idea that apple would fab a given design at multiple fabs is pretty silly, given that each fab will have different design rules, different transistor models, etc. They would have to redo the design for each fab, which is too much work.

Far more likely that they do A-series over here, M-series over there, odd numbered generations here, even there, that sort of thing.