>I genuinely have no idea how Apple secured 5nm so early (and blocked other customers from getting a piece until 2022), I have to imagine that it was a last-min

>I genuinely have no idea how Apple secured 5nm so early (and blocked other customers from getting a piece until 2022), I have to imagine that it was a last-minute decision they pushed out to TSCM, judging from their response. I would not be at all surprised if they laid the groundwork for this partnership back in 2015 or even earlier. The only reason Apple dual-sourced the A9 was because TSMC didn't have the capacity to deliver the full requirement, but Apple had already been trying to get off Samsung for years. Apple has a long track record of early, heavy capital investment in core technology manufacturing capacity and long term contracts with suppliers. This serves the dual strategic purposes of securing exclusive access to new tech, and driving down the long term costs of that tech. They did this with retina displays, in that case Apple literally owned the manufacturing equipment operated by Sharp. In order to build out fab capacity TSMC needed long term high volume guaranteed orders. Apple delivered that. There was nothing last minute about any of this, I think it's always been the plan.