Intel's chip production at its current state isn't sufficient for Qualcomm, according to the firm's CEO, but the San Diego chipmaker won't rule out a future partnership with Team Blue.
Qualcomm Says Intel Isn't An Option For Their Chip Needs, But a Future Partnership Could Play Out
Intel's chip business is currently at a pivotal stage, considering that the firm is moving towards ramping up 18A production, which will initially be used for internal products like Panther Lake. However, the firm is taking measures to get external adoption as well; according to Qualcomm, it appears that Intel's current chips aren't capable enough for integration into the firm's mobile chips. Talking with Bloomberg, Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon claimed that Intel's chips aren't a good option today, but the firm is open to collaborate in the future.
Intel is not an option today. We would like Intel to be an option.
It seems like this is the general sentiment towards Intel's chip processes right now, considering that Team Blue has yet to showcase capabilities like the 18A chip, which could turn things around for the company. More importantly, Qualcomm claims that it will stick with TSMC and Samsung for its semiconductor needs; hence, Intel still needs to do a lot more to ensure that it gains adoption in the industry. For now, all eyes are on how Intel's Panther Lake chip turns out, which is claimed to be the first big product to feature the 18A node.
It won't be wrong to say that Intel's chip business future depends on how quickly the firm manages to include partners in its supply chain. CEO Lip-Bu Tan has made it clear that there won't be any more 'blank checks', as there is no room for excessive spending. More importantly, Intel will drop the race for cutting-edge chip processes if it continues to face sluggish momentum with 18A and 14A processes, which means that the next few years are vital for Intel Foundry.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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