Recently, Apple made a surprising move inviting CNBC into one of its highly secretive chip-testing labs for the first time ever. The notoriously clandestine company has a history of guarding its upcoming products so closely that some employees aren’t even aware of them. For Apple to welcome outside eyes into its workspaces is a major shift in policy, and it gave CNBC the unprecedented opportunity to film inside this particular chip-testing lab.
The lab itself has a utilitarian look, quite different from the glamorous vibe of Apple’s sleek headquarters that it’s shown off in past keynotes. The room houses nearly 70 machines testing chips for new Apple products, each identified a color-coded system. While this is the first time a news outlet’s film crew has been able to film inside the lab, it’s not the first time the public has gotten a peek at Apple’s chip-testing process. Back in 2016, Bloomberg published photos of a similar room layout.
This level of secrecy is not surprising for Apple, which has been increasingly focused on creating its own chips in recent years. In 2020, the company announced that it would begin making its own computer chips for Macs, a deviation from its previous reliance on Intel. Apple’s various lines of systems on a chip (SoC) include the A series for products like iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and HomePods, as well as the M series for MacBooks and some iPads. Smaller chips are also created for accessory devices such as Apple Watches, AirPods, and AirTags.
With Apple’s track record of innovative technology, the recent move to reveal its chip-testing lab offers a rare glimpse into the meticulous process of product development at the tech giant. It’s exciting to see the inner workings of a company that continues to push the envelope of innovation.