Intel chips have been powering Apple’s Macs for around 10 years now, but recently reports emerged that Apple will start manufacturing chips for its PCs in a few years, thus lowering its dependence on the chip maker. Intel CFO Stacy Smith, however, has denied any such possibility outright.
Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
Is Apple developing its own chips for Macs?
In an interview with Business Insider, Smith said Intel is so far ahead of the competition in PC processors that Apple and any other PC maker is left with no choice but to continue using Intel chips.
Apple dropped indigenous chips in the Mac Book range and adopted Intel-made chips in 2005. The decision from the late Steve Jobs came as a jolt because at that time, Intel was the chip maker for the Windows range of PCs, and Microsoft was the biggest rival of Apple. At that time, the partnership with Intel was a necessity for Apple as it could not figure out a way to match the expectations of the Mac and Macbook through its chip.
[drizzle]It is further speculated that Apple’s ARM-based chips will be more power-packed to run Macs, and thereafter, Apple would not need Intel. Additionally, some Intel chips are already delayed, which indicates that Apple will have to wait if it wants to release new innovative products like the new super-thin MacBook Air, according to Business Insider.
Intel CFO confident on its technology
However, Smith is not at all concerned with the ongoing speculations. According to the Intel CFO, Apple is a great partner, and just like the chip maker, the iPhone maker is also bringing cool stuff to the market. Smith said, “As long as we’re bringing great technology to the marketplace, we’re enabling them to do great Apple products.” Also, it is quite evident that Apple needs to keep the partnership running for some time.
“Our leadership over the rest of the industry is extending,” Smith said, and added, “We’re not delayed relative to the industry. We’re actually ahead of the industry.”
Put in simple words, this suggests that the iPhone maker is left with little choice because it would not want to risk losing its performance in new Macs.
[/drizzle]
