Intel to start making ARM processors


Intel is changing gears for mobile chips. The company announced it will begin fabricating chips based on ARM designs and step back from its own designs. Apple licenses ARM's processors and customizes them for its needs. It then contracts with a fabricator to print the chips. For much of Apple's mobile devices Apple has used Samsung, however, Apple has been working more with TSMC. The next iPhone is rumored to use CPU/GPU fabricated by TSMC.

Ars Technica

Companies designing chips based on ARM's Artisan Physical IP will be able to manufacture them on Intel's upcoming 10nm FinFET process, giving those chip companies an option aside from the currently dominant Samsung and TSMC. It sounds like ARM licensees who use ARM's off-the-shelf technology will be able to use Intel's fabs to create chips but that licensees like Qualcomm who use a lot of their own custom CPUs and GPUs won't be able to.

I'm assuming Apple would be in that custom group, however, that could change down the road.