Apple designs its own chips (A-series, M-series) and outsources manufacturing to TSMC, while Samsung both designs (Exynos) and manufactures its own chips, also producing chips for other companies. In short: Apple designs, TSMC makes; Samsung designs and makes.
Background: How Apple and Samsung Got Here
Apple started using Intel processors in Macs in 2006, but began designing its own mobile chips with the A4 in 2010 for the iPhone and iPad. The transition to Apple Silicon for Macs began in 2020 with the M1. Samsung, meanwhile, has designed its Exynos processors since 2010, but has also used Qualcomm Snapdragon chips in many phones, particularly in the US market. Samsung’s semiconductor division is one of the world’s largest foundries, competing directly with TSMC.
Who Designs Apple’s Chips?
Apple’s chip design team, based in Cupertino and various global offices, designs the architecture, CPU cores, GPU, neural engine, and all other components. They license the ARM instruction set and design custom cores from scratch. The team includes thousands of engineers, many former Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm employees. Apple’s designs are known for high single-core performance, energy efficiency, and tight integration with iOS and macOS.
Who Makes Apple’s Chips?
Apple does not own any semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs). Instead, it contracts manufacturing to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company). TSMC produces the A-series and M-series chips using its advanced process nodes, such as 5nm and 3nm. Apple is TSMC’s largest customer, and TSMC often gets exclusive access to new manufacturing technologies for a period. This partnership allows Apple to focus on design while TSMC handles the capital-intensive fabrication.
Who Designs and Makes Samsung’s Chips?
Samsung has two relevant divisions: Samsung System LSI (designs Exynos chips) and Samsung Foundry (manufactures chips for itself and others). The Exynos line is designed in-house, using ARM CPU cores (Cortex series) and custom or ARM GPUs. Samsung Foundry produces Exynos chips in its own fabs. However, many Samsung phones use Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, especially in North America, because of better modem integration and performance. Samsung Foundry also manufactures chips for other companies, including Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and AMD.
Key Differences in Approach
- Design: Apple uses fully custom CPU cores; Samsung typically uses ARM’s stock Cortex cores with some customization.
- Manufacturing: Apple relies entirely on TSMC; Samsung uses its own fabs for Exynos, but also outsources some chips to TSMC.
- Market: Apple’s chips are exclusive to Apple devices; Samsung sells Exynos to other phone makers (e.g., Motorola) and uses them in some of its own phones.
- Integration: Apple integrates its chips with its own hardware and software, while Samsung’s Exynos must work with Android and various components.
Performance and Efficiency Compared
Historically, Apple’s custom cores outperform Samsung’s Exynos and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon in single-core and multi-core benchmarks. Apple’s chips also lead in energy efficiency, meaning longer battery life for the same performance. Samsung’s Exynos chips have improved, but have sometimes faced thermal throttling and efficiency issues. In recent years, Samsung has partnered with AMD for GPU technology in the Exynos 2200, but performance still lags behind Apple’s A-series. The gap is less pronounced in real-world usage than in synthetic benchmarks.
Common Misconception: Does Samsung Make Apple’s Chips?
No. Samsung did manufacture some Apple A-series chips in the past (e.g., the A9 for iPhone 6s), but since the A10 (2016), TSMC has been the sole manufacturer. The confusion arises because Samsung is a major chipmaker, but Apple’s chips are made exclusively by TSMC. Samsung and Apple are also rivals in the phone market, so Apple would not rely on Samsung for critical components.
How to Choose a Phone: Chip Considerations
When buying a phone, the chip matters for performance, battery life, and longevity. For iPhones, you get Apple’s latest chip, which is always competitive. For Android phones, you may see Snapdragon, Exynos, or MediaTek. In general:
- If you want maximum performance and efficiency, Apple’s A-series is the current leader.
- If you prefer Android, Snapdragon chips (especially the 8-series) are usually the top choice for gaming and overall performance.
- Exynos chips are now competitive, but check regional reviews because performance can vary by model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Samsung make chips for Apple?
No. Apple uses TSMC exclusively for all its chip manufacturing since 2016. Samsung was a co-manufacturer for some earlier chips like the A9, but that ended.
Why doesn’t Apple use Samsung’s foundry?
Apple likely prefers TSMC because of its manufacturing quality, yield, and process technology leadership. Also, Samsung is a direct competitor in phones, so Apple avoids giving Samsung insight into its chip designs.
Are Exynos chips as good as Snapdragon?
Recent Exynos chips (e.g., Exynos 2200) are close in performance but sometimes have higher power consumption. Snapdragon chips generally have better modems and gaming optimization. Exynos is improving, but many users still prefer Snapdragon.
What does TSMC stand for?
TSMC stands for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. It is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, manufacturing chips for many companies including Apple, AMD, and NVIDIA.
Can I upgrade my phone’s chip?
No. The chip is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. You must buy a new phone to get a newer chip.
Which is better: Apple’s M1 or Intel’s i9?
It depends on the task. The M1 offers better performance per watt and is excellent for everyday tasks and video editing. The Intel i9 (in high-end laptops) may have higher peak performance in multi-threaded workloads but consumes more power. Apple’s M-series chips are generally more efficient.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.
More cards in this drawer
- Mac Start Up Automatically After Power Failure?
- Expose Self-Hosted Service Securely Without Cloudflare Tunnel
- Nano Delivery for Functional Foods: What It Can and Can’t Do4.00
- Disable Apple Watch Turn-by-Turn Vibration While Driving
- Phishing Detector 96.70% Accuracy: What It Means
- Protect Women Athletes’ Privacy on Social Media