Apple reunites with UK-based GPU chip supplier Imagination Technologies after public dispute

Recently, the UK-based company Imagination Technologies that used to provide graphics processors for the iPhone and iPad has inked a multi-year license agreement under the Cupertino tech giant Apple yet again.

 As per the agreement, Apple will have access to a broader range of Imagination’s intellectual property in exchange for license fees. This new deal comes after a month of the launch of new-gen mobile GPU architecture ‘IMG A-Series mobile GPU’ which is called as “The GPU of everything.”

Imagination spokesperson said:

We can’t comment on today’s announcement, but I think it’s one of several things Imagination has to feel good about as we head into 2020.

Back in April 2017, Apple broke up with Imagination Technologies in an attempt to start designing its own graphics chips. However, the UK-based company expressed skepticism over Apple designing its chips without infringing Imagination’s patents, intellectual property, and confidential information.

Post the split, the UK company’s share price plunged about 70% on the same day itself, since half of the revenue it generated came from Apple. 

For the uninitiated, Imagination is a UK-based company that creates silicon and software IP. Its graphics, compute, vision & AI, and connectivity technologies enable outstanding PPA (Power, Performance, and Area), robust security, fast time-to-market, and lower total cost of ownership. 

It’s worth mentioning that products based on Imagination IP are used by billions of people across the globe in their phones, homes, cars, and workplaces.

Back in 2017, the company was bought by Canyon Bridge, a China-backed private equity firm in September 2017 for £550million (approx €646 million), which is a little more than a quarter of its peak value five years before.

Nevertheless, it was a good start for the Hertfordshire-based Imagination Technologies, which was seen as Britain’s one of the most promising companies. On the other hand, Apple witnessed an 86% rise over its shares during 2019. The Cupertino tech giant is planning to unveil its first 5G iPhone later this year. 

Main image credits:  Laura Hutton/Shutterstock

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