Is Apple about to snub Intel?

Report claims Apple will use its own chips in Mac products as early as 2020

Apple is planning to drop Intel's chips from its Mac devices and replace them with its own design, a report has claimed.

Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, said Apple plans to use its own chips in Macs as early as 2020, bringing the products in line with its mobile devices which already use Apple-designed components.

A final decision is yet to be made, according to Bloomberg, but the news agency said that the initiative is part of a wider plan to make Apple's desktops and laptops more integrated with its iPhones and iPad products. These products use Apple chips which are largely based on technology from ARM and produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Intel reportedly receives around five per cent of its annual revenue from Apple. The chip maker's share price fell over seven per cent when the rumours were first announced yesterday.

Apple would become the only major PC vendor to use its own processors if it does decide to make the switch.

Intel and Apple declined to comment.