Apple just locked in its blazing-fast processor deal beyond 2040

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Arming up past 2040.

iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island on home screen
(Image credit: iMore)

Apple and UK-based chip design company Arm have agreed to a new deal that will now last “beyond 2040”.

According to AppleInsider, Arm has been looking to file for a public offering, which means that shares in the company can soon be bought. This has revealed more information on a new deal between the company and Apple.

"We have entered into a new long-term agreement with Apple that extends beyond 2040,”  said Arm in the IPO document. “This continues our longstanding relationship of collaboration with Apple and Apple's access to the Arm architecture."

For those unaware, Arm's technology has long helped Apple to create and design the chips that power your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, alongside Vision Pro. Their relationship is three decades long, with Arm helping to design the chip that powered the Newton handheld in 1993.

This new deal is only going to help Apple plan for the future. From new iPhones to brand-new devices we’re yet to find out about, it means that an M25 chip wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for a MacBook in 25 years' time.

An Arm-reach for your next 10 upgrades and beyond — iMore’s Take

Arm’s headway in the chip space has spooked other manufacturers in the category in recent years, such as Intel and AMD. Apple made the switch to Intel chips for its Macs in 2006, and while these gave plenty of improvements in speed for its Macs compared to the Power PC chips that came before, the partnership seemingly soured.

So much so, that Intel began to run ads in 2021 that tried to prove its processors were better than Apple’s, after Apple started putting its own silicon in Macs from 2020. 

We’re already at the point where an M2 Pro Mac mini blows past any Intel chip on offer. The latest M2 Ultra chip can also render video projects at a much faster pace than an Intel Mac ever could.

So with this new deal, it’s safe to assume that we’re only going to be seeing more improvements in power and speed as the years pass, and for products that we’ve yet to even consider from Apple. From wearing an Apple Ring to a glove that’s powered by an M19 chip, the possibilities are endless but we’ve got an exciting future ahead.

Daryl Baxter
Daryl Baxter
Features Editor

Daryl is iMore's Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use everyday to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.

Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64 and Daily Star.

4 Comments Comment from the forums
  • FFR
    Sucks to be Qualcomm .
    Reply
  • Bla1ze
    FFR said:
    Sucks to be Qualcomm .
    Could be worse. Could be Intel.
    Reply
  • Annie_M
    And Intel is building a huge plant in central Ohio!

    "Intel is planning to invest more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip factories in Ohio to boost production to meet demand for advanced semiconductors, power a new generation of innovative products from Intel, and serve the needs of foundry customers.

    Spanning nearly 1,000 acres in Licking County, just outside of Columbus, the “mega-site” can accommodate a total of eight chip factories as well as supporting operations and ecosystem partners." Source Link
    Reply
  • FFR
    Bla1ze said:
    Could be worse. Could be Intel.

    Not quite, Intel isn’t getting sued by arm
    Reply