Apple will save $ 500 million a year on its Mac processors. Intel will survive this
According to Bloomberg, in 2020, Apple can introduce the first Mac with processors of its own design. The transition to proprietary solutions will reduce the cost of computers of the company, but will not have a serious impact on the business of Intel.
Why is this Apple?
Analyst of Merrill Lynch investment bank Wamsi Mohan believes that due to Apple chips, the cost of Mac components will decrease by an average of $ 40-50. In addition, in Cupertino will be able to cut costs for the development of iOS, MacOS and software for them. The mobile and desktop OS are already getting closer to each other thanks to the Marzipan project. It is aimed at creating applications that will work equally on all platforms of the company.
The rejection of Intel processors is part of a larger program for the unification of devices, code-named Kalamata. According to Vamsi Mohan, the simpler Mac (read - MacBook) will be the first to transfer ARM-chips to Apple. If at least half of the computers are equipped with them, the corporation will annually be able to save about $ 500 million.
And what about Intel?
After the publication of the Bloomberg report on Monday, Intel shares fell 9.2%, which was the biggest drop in the last two years. But experts at Barclays Bank are more optimistic. According to their estimates, the top-end Mac accounts for only 3-4% of the processor giant's revenue, and another 2% - for "budget" models. The main drivers for Intel's growth are server business and corporate systems, so Apple's transition to its chips will not hit hard on revenue.
What now?
The current Mac already uses branded chips. They unload the CPU, taking over some of the functions. Thus, Apple T1 controls the Touch Bar in the MacBook Pro, and the T2 co-processor in iMac Pro is responsible for sound, storage and cooling system. According to rumors, auxiliary ARM-chips will also receive new Mac line in 2018.
Microsoft partners outstripped Apple and were the first to introduce computers with ARM-processor Snapdragon 835. True, the result was ambiguous - to run classic Windows-based programs on devices using an emulator, which greatly affects the performance. Dell does not even question the success of this initiative.
