Berkshire Hathaway bought a $4.1B stake in Apple chipmaker TSMC
A regulatory filing has revealed that Warren Buffett’s conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway bought a $4.1B stake in Apple chipmaker TSMC …
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Apple chipmaker TSMC at ever-growing risk from China, amid US tech war
A new piece today argues that Apple chipmaker TSMC is at ever-growing risk from China, and questions the wisdom of the Cupertino company allowing itself to become wholly dependent on a single company.
With the US now actively seeking to hamper China’s own chip fabrication industry by imposing export controls on chipmaking equipment, there are fears that this greatly increases the chances of either TSMC or Taiwan as a whole suffering retaliatory measures …
Expand Expanding CloseiPhone 14 helped TSMC boost revenue by 48%, as other chipmakers suffer
Strong sales of the iPhone 14 helped TSMC increase its third-quarter revenue by 48%, at a time when other chipmaking companies are suffering.
There have been fears that rising inflation and interest rates would dampen demand for the iPhone 14, but this appears not to be the case …
Expand Expanding CloseApple reportedly agrees to TSMC chip price increase after saying it wouldn’t
A report from Economic Daily News last week revealed that TSMC told Apple that it would increase the price of the company’s chip production for 2023, but Apple reportedly rejected the new prices. However, Economic Daily News is now back with a new report, this time saying that Apple has decided to agree to price increases for TSMC’s chips.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung chipmaking plans could see it competing with TSMC for Apple’s business
Samsung chipmaking plans revealed today suggest that the company may be hoping to compete with TSMC for Apple’s A-series and M-series chip business.
The Korean company is not only targeting 3nm processes and beyond, but also plans to make these new advanced chips in the US …
Expand Expanding CloseA17 chip – TSMC wanted price increase for 3nm process, Apple reportedly said no
Apple’s A17 chip is of course expected to be used in iPhone 15 Pro models. It’s reported that the chip will use TSMC’s new 3nm process, which we’re expecting to be used first in M2 Macs later this year.
Given the increased sophistication of the fabrication process, TSMC has reportedly told Apple it plans to increase the price it charges, but Apple is said to have “rejected” the new planned pricing …
Expand Expanding CloseCHIPS Act details revealed: ‘Biggest investment in US industrial policy in 50 years’
While we knew that around $50B was being made available to promote US chip fabrication, it’s only today that we’re learning the actual CHIPS Act details. The bill itself did not specify how the money would be split.
Specifically, we now know that a little over half the total will be made available to help produce advanced chips in the US, while the rest of the money is being divided between two further initiatives …
Expand Expanding CloseTSMC Arizona plant: Construction of main chip facility complete, says state governor
Arizona’s State Governor Doug Ducey has given an update on the TSMC Arizona plant, stating that construction of the main chip facility is now complete. The plant is expected to fabricate some of Apple’s A-series and M-series chips.
In a likely bid to appease China, TSMC issued a statement stressing that Ducey had not visited the company during his trip to Taiwan …
Expand Expanding Close50¢ chip shortage is one bottleneck for $600B chip industry, says TSMC
There have been conflicting reports in the chip industry on when we might expect an end to the global chip shortage, but Apple chipmaker TSMC says that isn’t going to happen any time soon.
The growing number of low-end chips used in everything from smartphones and cars means that production can be held up by a lack of mundane chips costing as little as 50 cents …
Expand Expanding CloseTSMC to start 3nm chip production for M2 Pro ahead of A17 for iPhone 15
Apple will be the first to use TSMC’s new 3nm chips for its M2 Pro processor, expected to be available with new Macs later this year. Previous reports suggested the manufacturer would delay production of this technology, but it has now reiterated that the 3nm expansion will maintain the original plan.
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Biden signs $52B CHIPS Act, but many remain skeptical
President Joe Biden signed the $52B CHIPS and Science Act yesterday, authorizing subsidies for chipmaking within the US.
The White House claims the act has spurred $44B worth of new chip fabrication plans, but many doubts have been expressed about the likely effectiveness of the measure …
Expand Expanding CloseNancy Pelosi Taiwan visit included meeting TSMC, as China announces live-fire military exercises
The controversial Nancy Pelosi Taiwan visit reportedly included meeting with TSMC chairman Mark Liu to discuss the CHIPS Act in relation to the chipmaker’s Arizona plant. The plant is expected to make chips for Apple.
China is extremely unhappy about the visit, and has responded by announcing live-fire military exercises in waters close to the island …
Expand Expanding CloseCHIPS Act could see Intel take lion’s share, with TSMC Arizona plant a lower priority
The scale of subsidies for the TSMC Arizona plant are in doubt as it becomes clear that the $52B CHIPS Act grants won’t go far, and Intel is angling to take the largest slice of the pie.
TSMC has previously said that the subsidy for American chip manufacturing was “vital” to its Arizona plant, which has been expected to begin US production of Apple’s A-series and M-series chips from 2024 …
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CHIPS Act passes Senate vote, after $52B became $280B to fund scientific research too
The CHIPS Act, originally designed to provide $52B in incentives for chipmakers to open US plants, has now passed a Senate vote, with bipartisan support. It is expected to pass a House vote as early as next week, but has gained weight in its journey through Congress.
Apple lobbied in favor of the original plan, stating that it was vital to the construction of a TSMC plant in Arizona, which is expected to make chips for the Cupertino company …
Expand Expanding CloseUS chip subsidy bill ‘vital to TSMC Arizona plant’ passes new Senate vote
A $52B US chip subsidy bill has convincingly passed a new Senate vote, with 64 in favor and just 34 opposed. Apple has said that the subsidy is ‘vital’ to the construction of a TSMC chip-making plant in Arizona, which is expected to make chips for the Cupertino company.
The latest vote had been described as a test of whether there was sufficient backing to include additional funding for science and defense research …
Expand Expanding CloseTSMC predicts Q3 revenue boost thanks to increased iPhone 13 demand
The iPhone chipmaker TSMC predicts Q3 revenue of up to $19.8-$20.6 billion from $14.88 billion year-over-year, thanks to increased demand for the iPhone 13. TSMC seems confident in long-term chip demand.
Expand Expanding CloseFoxconn buys stake in China’s top chipmaker, seemingly without the necessary approval
Primary iPhone assembler Foxconn has reportedly bought a stake in China’s top chipmaker, Tsinghjau Unigroup – but appears to have done so without the necessary government approval.
The move comes at a time when Apple is seeking to widen its chip supplier roster to guard against supply chain disruptions …
Expand Expanding CloseApple forced to cut iPhone 14 orders by 10%, despite anticipating strong demand
While demand for the next generation iPhone is looking to be high, the hectic supply chain continues to disrupt the market. According to DigiTimes, Apple is cutting iPhone 14 orders by 10%, despite expecting strong demand for its lineup.
Expand Expanding CloseCHIPS Act subsidies vital to Arizona plant, says Apple chipmaker TSMC
The CHIPS Act, which would provide more than $50 billion in subsidies for US chip production, is vital if TSMC’s Arizona plant is to proceed on schedule, says the company.
Apple was among the companies to lobby for the subsidy, but political battles mean that the passing of the bill is now in some doubt …
Expand Expanding CloseUS chip production subsidies in doubt despite bipartisan support
Almost exactly a year ago, the Senate approved $52B in funding to boost US chip production, and the House likewise gave its support in February of this year. Apple also lobbied for the deal. Despite this, the subsidy now appears to be in doubt.
Democrats and Republicans are reported to be bogged down in arguments about other measures in the bill …
Expand Expanding CloseiPhone chipmaker to start 2nm processor production by 2025
TSMC, the iPhone chipmaker, announced that it will start 2nm chip production by 2025. This is the first time the manufacturer states when it’s going to produce its ultra-advanced new chips, as Samsung and Intel made a similar announcements.
Expand Expanding CloseTSMC Singapore plant could alleviate chip shortage, say Apple chipmaker sources
A new TSMC Singapore plant is being discussed, as a way to help tackle the global chip shortage. The company is said to be in discussion with the government over the potential move.
A Singapore plant would help Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company achieve another key objective, says the report …
Expand Expanding CloseIntel Meteor Lake chips may be made by TSMC, as it seeks to rival Apple’s M1 chips
Intel last week provided an update on its 14th-generation Meteor Lake processors due to launch next year, but it seems that there may have been a crucial change to the company’s plans.
Intel has said as recently as last week that it would fabricate the chips itself, using a 7nm process, but a supply-chain report today claims that the company will instead outsource the work to TSMC, so it can benefit from the same 5nm process used for Apple’s M1 chips …
Expand Expanding CloseChips for chipmaking machines are affected by chip shortage, says TSMC and Intel
One of the catch-22s of the global component shortage is that chips for chipmaking machines are one of the items in short supply, say execs from Intel and Apple chipmaker TSMC.
Buying new chipmaking machines was never a speedy process, given their complexity and delicacy, but lead times before the pandemic were measured in months. Now, say chipmakers, that time can be as long as 2-3 years …
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