As we reported earlier this week, often reliable KGI is predicting that Apple will bring its in-house designed A-series processor to an entry-level Mac sometime in 2016 with TSMC and Samsung expected to fab the potential A9X and A10X chips, respectively. As the move to put non-Intel chips in the Mac lineup would be a departure for the company, CNBC asked Intel CEO Brian Krzanich about the chip-maker’s business plans with Apple…
Unsurprisingly, Krzanich defended Intel’s relationship with Apple despite expectations of the company designing its own chips for upcoming Macs.
When asked if he has heard anything to the effect of Apple not using Intel chips for its notebook line down the road or had specific discussions on the topic, Krzanich dismissed the notion as persistent rumors declaring that Intel’s “relationship with Apple is strong.”
Krzanich went on to dismiss the effect news of a potential switch from Intel by Apple had on its stock price earlier in the week. KGI did, however, include Intel as an additional baseband supplier in 2016 adding to Apple’s mix of providers.
As we reported earlier this week, the KGI prediction wording describes an Apple-designed A-series chip with processing power between an Atom and Core i3 chip. That processing power sits on the entry-level end of Apple’s notebook lineup suggesting the A-series chip departure from Intel will likely be saved for a future version of Apple’s upcoming 12-inch MacBook Air.
You can watch the video below of Intel’s CEO discussing the Apple chip news: