Did Apple use ARM chips before they moved to Intel?
No, they used PowerPC chips immediately before Intel but made the mistake of teaming with IBM for the G5. The problem was never that IBM didn’t design powerful chips but that the company didn’t have the best history building powerful chips that didn’t use a lot of wattage.
Had Apple stuck with Motorola for the “G5” they might have done better.
Now, Apple did use an ARM in the Newton ... /showing age
Apple initially looked at processors such as those from MIPS Technologies, Sun, and Acorn Computers. The Acorn ARM architecture RISC processors powered the 1993 Apple Newton, 2001 iPod, and 2007 iPhone.
Apple uses its A series processors for its iPhones and iPads. These processors are based on ARM architecture. The latest version of these have tested more powerful and faster than the Intel processors in the lowest priced MacBook Pro, while using less energy.
Formerly PowerPC, Motorola 68K before that. ...if I remember correctly.