Microchip Technology & Apple
Microchip Technology supplies microcontrollers (MCUs) used in Apple accessories and peripheral components. MCUs from Microchip handle low-level control functions in products such as the MagSafe charging system, Lightning and USB-C authentication chips, and various Apple keyboard and trackpad controllers. These are embedded components that handle small but critical control loops in Apple hardware.
Why it matters: While not as strategically prominent as Apple's main chip or display suppliers, Microchip's MCUs perform authentication and control functions that Apple's ecosystem depends on. The MagSafe authentication chip, for example, ensures that only authorized accessories communicate properly with iPhone, which supports Apple's accessory certification program.