Intel Stock Slides After Report Apple Will Switch Macs To Custom Chips Next Year

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF/Cnet) -- Apple will start selling Macs that use in-house microprocessors in 2021, based on ones in upcoming iPhones and iPad Pros, Bloomberg reported Thursday. The company is apparently working on three of its own chips, suggesting a transition away from traditional supplier Intel.

The initial batch of custom chips won't be on the same level as the Intel ones used in high-end Apple computers, so they're likely to debut in a new type of laptop, the report noted. These processors could have eight high-performance cores and at least four energy-efficient cores, respectively codenamed Firestorm and Icestorm.

It isn't the first we've heard about Apple moving to a homemade processor. Rumors have been swirling since 2018 and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reportedly said in February that it's a critical element of the company's strategy, along with a 5G iPhone and iPads with midsize panel tech.

Neither Apple nor Intel immediately responded to requests for comment.

After the Bloomberg report was published, Intel gave a disappointing profit forecast and saw a decline late in trading, closing the day down 1.8 percent.

© Copyright 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.