Is Apple going backwards by changing its computer chips?

Apple uses its own AMR architecture chips in its tablets and smartphones, but purchases Intel 's x86 architecture chips for its computer products. Recently, there are reports that Apple may design its own ARM architecture computer CPU and give up cooperation with Intel.

Recently, Intel executives responded that Intel's computer processors are far ahead in the industry, and if Apple abandons Intel chips, the performance of Apple computers will regress.

What this means is that Intel is warning Apple: You can't do without Intel when it comes to computer chips.

In the early days of Apple's computer product line, Apple has always used PowerPC architecture processors, but this architecture has been marginalized in the personal computer market, and the world is using x86 architecture processors dominated by Intel.

In the face of the industry trend, Apple CEO Steve Jobs made a major announcement in 2005: Apple computers would use Intel processors. This announcement shocked the entire industry because Intel chips had long been paired with Microsoft 's Windows operating system, forming the "Intel Alliance" that monopolized the personal computer industry, and Microsoft was Apple's "mortal enemy."

One reason why Apple turned to the x86 processor camp is that Apple alone is no longer able to design a computer processor with sufficient performance.

Apple has been using Intel chips for nearly a decade, but several media outlets have recently reported that Apple will redesign its processor chips for computers in the next few years and will abandon Intel's x86 architecture products.

The application processor chips currently used by Apple in its smartphones and tablets are all designed by Apple itself and are produced by major semiconductor foundry companies such as Samsung Electronics and TSMC.

Some media pointed out that the ARM architecture processor developed by Apple is powerful enough to support its personal computer product line, and Apple no longer needs Intel to provide processors. In addition, Intel often delays the launch of new processors, which also affects Apple's computer product upgrade plan. For example, in order to launch a new ultra-thin notebook , Apple sometimes has to wait for Intel to launch a new product.

Recently, Intel's Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith was interviewed by Business Insider, a mainstream American online media, in which he responded to reports that Apple might abandon Intel computer processors.

Smith said that Apple is a large and high-quality customer of Intel. As Intel launches excellent technologies and products to the market, Intel also enables Apple to launch excellent Mac products.

"Our lead in the computer chip industry is widening," Smith said. "We are not lagging behind the industry. We are actually leading the computer processor industry."

Smith then said: "For customers like Apple, if they leave our architecture, it means they also leave excellent processor performance. Excellent processor performance is also the fundamental reason why Intel wins different types of customers."

In January, several well-known analysts said that Apple would abandon Intel's processors in its personal computer products and use its own ARM architecture processors. These analysts include Ming-Chi Kuo (KGI Securities), a well-known analyst who has been paying attention to Apple for a long time, and Rod Hall, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase Bank.

In the middle of last year, MacRumors and other technology websites that focus on Apple news said that Apple is developing a number of computer products using ARM chips, including the all-in-one iMAC, the mini desktop MACMini, and the 13-inch MacBook notebook.

It should be pointed out that various rumors have been circulating about the relationship between Apple products and Intel processors. Some analysts have even said that Apple may use Intel processors used in computers in its tablets.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.