So what is the underlying reason that an Intel part can not make it into an Apple phone (assuming they had one that hit on all of the above vectors)?
1) Apple had already invested hundreds of millions of dollars
in developing the A7. The presence an in-house MPU team
adds a corporate political factor to processor choices.
2) iOS is ARM based and choosing an Intel chip would mean
a strategic decision of a platform switch to x86 which would
require a lead time to get the software whipped into shape.
3) Apple doesn't sell on the basis of x% better performance,
it is a provider of electronic fashion accessories. Processor
choice is less critical than it is for other manufacturers.
4) Apple's corporate culture is that of a secrecy obsessed
control freak. The more factors it can directly control and
hide the better. Buying a processor from Intel that anyone
else can buy means giving up a big element of control and
differentiation.
Many of these factors caused Apple to hold onto PowerPC
well past its best before date.
Down the road Intel could conceivable win phone and tablet
sockets at Apple but it would only be after a long period of
sustained competitive disadvantage from sticking to ARM
processors designed in-house. As the competitiveness of
A7 shows, Intel and its customers have yet to even begin to
apply that pressure. If x86 wins the mobile market I'd wager
Apple would be the LAST major company to lay down ARMs.
It has the money and attitude to hold out to the bitter end.
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