Why Apple needs to ditch Intel for ARM or RISC

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Intel's processor delays and disruption has left Apple with no choice but to ditch them as a partner... But who will Apple choose to help it make its own Mac chips

macworld.co.uk, Apr. 23, 2020 – 

The year 2020 could go down in Apple history. A new transformation may be pending. According to reports, Apple is intent on changing the CPU architecture for the Mac product line with a move away from Intel planned.

The rumour is that Apple will announced the next change of processor platform at WWDC in June (the first time Apple's developer event will take place online). It's thought that Apple will reveal plans to move away from Intel's core chips and towards its own CPUs based on ARM - having been convinced of their performance benefits in the iPhone and iPad. This doesn't mean we will see the first Mac with an Apple-designed processor at WWDC, but we may well hear about it.

This switch to ARM will then be the defining Mac theme throughout 2020 and 2021.

The beginning

This isn't the first time Apple has moved away from a processor manufacturer. Back in 2005 Apple announced that it would be turning its back on the PowerPC in favour of Intel. The PowerPC processor was the result of an alliance between Apple, IBM and Motorola (sometimes referred to as AIM). In the early days the PowerPC products performed well, with benchmark scores that matched the competition, but by 2003 things were already starting to lag.

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