Apple designs the processors used in the iPhone and iPad, but it does not manufacture the chips itself. Apple develops the processor architecture and chip design, while semiconductor foundries manufacture the finished chips.
For modern iPhones and iPads, TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is Apple’s main processor manufacturing partner.
Apple’s mobile processors belong to the A-series, including the A15 Bionic, A16 Bionic, A17 Pro, A18, A18 Pro and A19 Pro. Some iPad models also use A-series chips, while higher-end iPads use Apple’s M-series processors.
Samsung and TSMC
Apple did not always rely on TSMC. Samsung manufactured many of Apple’s early processors, and the companies worked together for several generations of the iPhone and iPad.
Apple gradually moved A-series production to TSMC. The A8 was an important step in this transition, while the A9 was a special case: Apple used both Samsung and TSMC to manufacture the processor. As a result, some iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus devices contain an A9 made by Samsung, while others contain an A9 made by TSMC.
After the A9, TSMC became Apple’s primary manufacturer for the A-series.
Apple processor manufacturers by generation
| Processor | Main manufacturer |
|---|---|
| A4 | Samsung |
| A5 | Samsung |
| A6 | Samsung |
| A7 | Samsung |
| A8 | TSMC |
| A9 | Samsung / TSMC |
| A10 Fusion | TSMC |
| A11 Bionic | TSMC |
| A12 Bionic | TSMC |
| A13 Bionic | TSMC |
| A14 Bionic | TSMC |
| A15 Bionic | TSMC |
| A16 Bionic | TSMC |
| A17 Pro | TSMC |
| A18 / A18 Pro | TSMC |
| A19 / A19 Pro | TSMC |
The early generations are more complicated than this simplified table suggests because Apple changed suppliers during this period and some chips had multiple production arrangements. The A9 is the best-known example of two manufacturers producing the same generation.
Why does Apple use TSMC?
Designing a processor and manufacturing it are two very different activities. Building advanced semiconductor factories requires enormous investment in equipment, production technology and research.
Apple therefore focuses on chip design rather than operating its own large-scale processor manufacturing facilities. TSMC specializes in semiconductor manufacturing and produces chips designed by companies such as Apple.
This arrangement also gives Apple access to TSMC’s latest manufacturing technologies as new generations of processors are developed.
Where are Apple processors made?
TSMC manufactures Apple chips at its semiconductor facilities. Most of TSMC’s advanced semiconductor production has historically been concentrated in Taiwan, while the company has also expanded manufacturing capacity in other countries, including the United States.
The exact manufacturing location can vary by processor generation and production technology. Therefore, it is not correct to assume that every current Apple processor is manufactured in the United States simply because TSMC has U.S. production facilities.
Does Samsung still make iPhone processors?
Samsung was an important manufacturer of Apple’s processors in the past, but TSMC is the main manufacturer of Apple’s current A-series processors.
The relationship between the two companies has therefore changed considerably. Samsung remains an important semiconductor manufacturer, but it is no longer Apple’s primary supplier of iPhone processors.
