Intel Foundries Able to Produce ARM-Based Chips Under New Licensing Deal

At today's Intel Developer Forum, Intel announced a new licensing deal with ARM, which will see Intel taking advantage of ARM technology in an effort to attract more manufacturing companies to its factories.

Under the terms of the deal, Intel plans to allow third-party semiconductor companies to use its 10-nanometer production lines for manufacturing ARM-based chips for smartphones, expanding the production options available to companies like Apple.

a9processor
Apple currently produces custom-designed ARM-based chips that are manufactured by companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), but with Intel and ARM's new licensing deal, Apple (and other manufacturers) could potentially use Intel to fabricate its chips.

LG Electronics has already inked a deal with Intel and will use Intel's foundry business to manufacture 10-nanometer chips for future LG devices. It is not clear if Apple will strike a deal with Intel, as rumors suggest Apple already has an agreement in place with TSMC to produce 10-nanometer A11 chips destined for the 2017 iPhone and other 2017 devices, but the possibility exists for future chips.

TSMC is also said to be the sole manufacturer of the A10 chip that will be used in the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Tags: Arm, Intel

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
apple c1

Apple Unveils 'C1' as First Custom Cellular Modem

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:08 am PST by
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e. The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most...
Apple Northbrook

Apple Store Permanently Closing at Struggling Mall in Chicago Area

Tuesday February 18, 2025 8:46 pm PST by
Apple is permanently closing its retail store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago area. The company confirmed the upcoming closure today in a statement, but it has yet to provide a closing date for the location. Apple Northbrook opened in 2005, and the store moved to a larger space in the mall in 2017. Apple confirmed that affected employees will continue to work for the...

Top Rated Comments

Michael Goff Avatar
111 months ago
Intel iPhone....me want!!!
A combo computer Intel core plus ARM would be nice, best of both worlds.
That's not even what the article is about.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Goff Avatar
111 months ago
Well since we are in a discussion about that ...it was implied............................but you proved me there are people that needs to be told everything.

Last iPhone with 2 different chip showed that there are differences in manufacturing, so YES Intel to me means a better chip it'll change very little..but it will change ;) to each his own i guess, no need to act like i said something irritating!

For the record, i will also tell you that i am very calm ;););)
You're the guy who decided to not put in all the information and condescend to people who didn't understand your drivel. That's the irritating thing. Not that you don't understand the minute differences between a Samsung A9 and a TSMC one.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gpat Avatar
111 months ago
This has no implications whatsoever with Intel compatibility. Your iPhone will continue to run exactly the same applications. Get a clue.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Goff Avatar
111 months ago
I specified....editing..i knew a smart one would comment without understanding.... it took 3 replies...
Maybe you should be a little more specific.

Also, Intel making the chips will change very little.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DakotaGuy Avatar
111 months ago
ATM, it's only Microsoft "defending" the PC platform now... because they failed to make a new operating system designed for Mobile (aka their MS Courier concept).
[doublepost=1471381577][/doublepost]
Well I'm glad somebody is because Apple seems on the verge of turning the Mac into a hobby business at best and I still need a traditional PC to do work on.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Menel Avatar
111 months ago
Called it ages ago. Intel has the leading technology when it comes to fabs and is under utilising them due to the slowdown in the sales of PC's. Each new shrinkage requires more and more capital than the previous process so if you are not really growing (outside of server based chips) then the only option is to open up your foundries.

Apple's huge cash reserves and massive demand for chips based on the best possible tech + Intel's leading foundries = was going to happen eventually. Intel is no longer competing in the SoC market so it makes sense. Good news for us consumers, Intel's 14nm process is the best in the business and ahead of anything TSMC, Samsung or GloFo have, so better performance + lower battery life and with the potential for a massive order from Apple they will have the cash needed to stay ahead of the pack at the 10nm and 7nm levels. No doubt this Intel Modem in the new iPhone 7 is just Apple testing the waters.
Years ago it may have been a huge boon. There was huge disparity in the lithography process of Intel vs everyone else. 45nm vs 22nm or whatever it was a few yeasr ago.

But not so anymore. I don't follow this segment much anymore, but a quick google search shows Intel's latest and greatest 6th gen processors are on 14nm technology, but very simliarly is Apple's A9 using Samsung's 14nm.

And there is probably some difference between the two different 14nm processes... and while technologically/scientifically significant. At the end user level, I feel like it's probably splitting hairs.

So this is a whole lot of ... meh to me. Too late. The mobile movement by Android/iOS gave urgency and funding and motivation for so many other fabs to catch up, keep up, and close the gap.

Is Intel running scared? They need some of this mobile cash flow they've been missing out on...?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)