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>When Intel refused to make Apple's ARM processor for iPhones, TSMC was also unable to build a competitive high-end SOC. And yet 13 years later, here we are. Of

>When Intel refused to make Apple's ARM processor for iPhones, TSMC was also unable to build a competitive high-end SOC. And yet 13 years later, here we are. Of course, Intel and TSMC both shop with ASML, and that's not a possibility anymore for SMIC, so it's not a quite similar comparison... When Intel refused to make Apple's ARM processor for iPhones Apple went to Samsung didn't they?

Xixi 6y ago
Indeed, until the A8 it was Samsung, then the A9 was split between Samsung and TSMC. And from the A10 it was TSMC only. In any case, Apple cash going away didn't help Intel. I'm pretty sure it helps financing TSMC RnD now, just like it helped financing Samsung RnD before. Now Huawei cash is going to finance SMIC. It's cash being funneled at a competitor, supported by the Chinese government. Which means that if Huawei is not competitive because of SMIC, SMIC is going to get further money/intelligence from the Chinese government to become competitive. I don't see how TSMC, Samsung or Intel win from that situation, at least in the long term. I can be completely wrong of course, and maybe China will be in a similar situation to that of the Soviet Union during the cold war: without access to competitive electronics. But SMIC is not that far behind, or are they? They can do 14nm, so they are at TSMC level of 2016. 4 years late? Without ASML support though, it might be harder to catch up. I think TSMC having to drop Huawei is more a side effect of American sanctions than anything being done by design. Again I can be wrong. US sanctions are very far reaching and problematic for a lot of companies (see: Airbus, BNP Paribas, etc.), it doesn't mean that these companies in particular are targeted by the US. Unintended consequences.