#Apple could announce shift away from Intel chips for Macs

Apple could announce plans this month to swap out Intel chips with its own processors in Mac computers, a new report says.

The tech giant is getting ready to make the switch official at its Worldwide Developers Conference that starts on June 22, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday. The annual event will be held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

That would give developers time to adjust their software to the new main processors that will be used in Mac laptops and desktops starting next year, according to Bloomberg. But Apple could change the timing of the announcement given that the switch won’t be made for months, the report says.

Apple declined to comment.

The processors that California-based Apple is developing have been shown to perform better than Intel’s chips, which the company has used in Mac computers since 2006, Bloomberg reported.

The new chips will be based on the same technology that runs Apple’s iPhones and iPads, but the computers will continue to use the macOS software rather than Apple’s iOS mobile software, according to the report. Apple is reportedly licensing technology from semiconductor company Arm Ltd.

The change will mean that Mac computers will be powered by Apple-designed processors for the first time in their 36-year history, according to Bloomberg. The company has reportedly switched chipmakers just two other times.

Apple shares were up 0.4 percent at $334.97 in early trading Tuesday, while Intel’s were down 0.8 percent at $63.13.