# Apple is reportedly testing glass-core chip substrates from Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a sign it may package AI server chips itself

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/apple-is-reportedly-testing-glass-core-chip-substrates-from-samsung-b77d2c14
Date: 8 Apr 2026
About: [Apple](https://technooptimist.io/companies/apple.md) · [Baltra (AI server chip)](https://technooptimist.io/computing/baltra.md)
Original source: https://www.trendforce.com/news/2026/04/08/news-apple-reportedly-sources-glass-substrate-samples-directly-signaling-further-in-house-ai-server-chip-push/

Korean press reported that Samsung Electro-Mechanics has been sending Apple samples of glass-core substrates, the base a chip is mounted on. Near term Apple may be checking them for Broadcom's platform; longer term it could take AI server chip packaging in-house. Baltra is first expected in Apple's Private Cloud Compute.

## Key facts

- Glass cores replace the organic core of today's chip substrates.
- Baltra's goal per the reports: less reliance on NVIDIA GPUs and lower data center costs.
- Baltra-powered Apple data centers are expected in full operation from 2027.

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