Apple is exploring a major shake-up of its chip supply chain, holding early-stage talks with Intel and Samsung about manufacturing key processors for future iPhones, iPads and Macs in the US.

According to reports from Bloomberg, Apple is considering the move as it looks to reduce its heavy reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which currently produces the company’s advanced Apple Silicon chips.

The discussions remain preliminary, with no orders placed and no guarantee Apple will proceed. But the talks underline growing pressure on global semiconductor supply chains as demand for AI hardware surges.

Apple executives have reportedly visited Samsung’s under-construction semiconductor facility in Texas and also explored Intel’s foundry business as a potential manufacturing partner.

The move comes as Apple grapples with shortages of advanced chips used across its Mac and iPhone ranges. During last week’s earnings call, CEO Tim Cook admitted supply constraints were limiting sales growth.

“We have less flexibility in the supply chain than we normally would,” Cook said.

The shortages are being driven partly by booming demand for AI infrastructure, with semiconductor manufacturing capacity increasingly tied up producing processors for data centres and AI systems.

For Apple, diversifying production has become both a commercial and geopolitical priority. The company still relies heavily on Taiwan-based TSMC for its most advanced 3-nanometre processors, despite expanding production in Arizona.

Apple says it expects to source 100 million chips from TSMC’s Phoenix facility in 2026, though that represents only a fraction of the company’s annual device volumes.

Intel would stand to gain significantly from any Apple partnership as CEO Lip-Bu Tan attempts to rebuild the company’s contract manufacturing business. Samsung, meanwhile, is seeking to strengthen its position against TSMC in the global foundry market.

Despite the discussions, Apple reportedly remains cautious about moving away from TSMC technology.

It’s predicted that any Intel- or Samsung-made Apple processors would likely not appear before 2027.