It's not the money that gives Apple the edge here, it's the "innovation" (let's leave the debate about whether Apple innovates or just improves/repackes aside f

It's not the money that gives Apple the edge here, it's the "innovation" (let's leave the debate about whether Apple innovates or just improves/repackes aside for now) that allows them to pre-empt the need for those components. Apple is still enough ahead of the competition in the product development department that they start making these deals long before anyone else. Plus of course the manufacturers trust Apple to actually take delivery of all and more based on the success of the past. Being able to put up the money for those kind of prepayments is about the only area in which competitors can match Apple.