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Apple Prepares to Get Made-in-US Chips in Pivot From Asia

Daniel Nenni

Daniel Nenni

Admin
Staff member
-Company plans to source chips from Arizona plant in 2024
-CEO Tim Cook makes comments about expansion during meeting

Apple CEO Tim Cook said on Tuesday that the tech giant would source some of its chips from Arizona as the company looks to diversify its supply chain. During an internal meeting that Cook had in Germany with local engineering and retail employees the Apple chieftain said the tech giant would be buying from a plant in Arizona that starts in 2024 and may also look to buy in Europe.

"We’ve already made a decision to be buying out of a plant in Arizona, and this plant in Arizona starts up in ’24, so we’ve got about two years ahead of us on that one, maybe a little less,” Cook told the employees. "And in Europe, I’m sure that we will also source from Europe as those plans become more apparent."

www.bloomberg.com

Apple Prepares to Get Made-in-US Chips in Pivot From Asia

Apple Inc. is preparing to begin sourcing chips for its devices from a plant under construction in Arizona, marking a major step toward reducing the company’s reliance on Asian production.
www.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com
 
Barnsley said:
Would they build if Apple didnt sign some purchasing agreement?
Click to expand...
Why wouldn’t they. If memory serves back when AZ was supposed to be a smaller project TSMC said it was mostly being built for the Auto industry. Also worth noting is that by 2024 Apple would soon be down ramping N5 production as their last gen products that still use it get replaced by N3 last gen products.
 
Barnsley said:
Would they build if Apple didnt sign some purchasing agreement?
Click to expand...

TSMC is very customer centric. Tim Cook asks and CC Wei delivers. Apple does not do pre pay but after 10+ years of close collaboration I'm sure Apple is behind TSMC's fab diversification.
 
nghanayem said:
Why wouldn’t they. If memory serves back when AZ was supposed to be a smaller project TSMC said it was mostly being built for the Auto industry. Also worth noting is that by 2024 Apple would soon be down ramping N5 production as their last gen products that still use it get replaced by N3 last gen products.
Click to expand...

TSMC N5 uses the same equipment as N3 so any of the fab modules in AZ can be N3. I also believe Apple will still be shipping N5 products in 2024.

I really do hope TSMC builds a giga fab in the EU and India. Then they will be a Global Foundry! :ROFLMAO:
 
Daniel Nenni said:
TSMC N5 uses the same equipment as N3 so any of the fab modules in AZ can be N3. I also believe Apple will still be shipping N5 products in 2024.

I really do hope TSMC builds a giga fab in the EU and India. Then they will be a Global Foundry! :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
I thought CC Wei said that N3 used alot of different equipment from N5, and implied that this is the reason for N3's issues.

As for Apple using N5 in 2024, that is interesting. Normally doesn't Apple begin phasing out products once their successor's successor comes to market?
 
nghanayem said:
I thought CC Wei said that N3 used alot of different equipment from N5, and implied that this is the reason for N3's issues.
As for Apple using N5 in 2024, that is interesting. Normally doesn't Apple begin phasing out products once their successor's successor comes to market?
Click to expand...

True, for example the first N3 version did more EUV layers. That was a mistake that has been corrected. The new N3 is much more like N4 on the equipment side. TSMC does make mistakes but in my experience they take ownership, they learn, and keep moving forward as fast as possible. They don't overthink it.

Apple uses a new process version ever year but it may be from the same TSMC fab, N5 and N4 for example. If you look on the Apple website today you can buy the iPhone 14, 13, SE, and 12 in the US. In other countries Apple still sells even older products, it just depends on where you are and what the economic level is.
 
Daniel Nenni said:
True, for example the first N3 version did more EUV layers. That was a mistake that has been corrected. The new N3 is much more like N4 on the equipment side. TSMC does make mistakes but in my experience they take ownership, they learn, and keep moving forward as fast as possible. They don't overthink it.

Apple uses a new process version ever year but it may be from the same TSMC fab, N5 and N4 for example. If you look on the Apple website today you can buy the iPhone 14, 13, SE, and 12 in the US. In other countries Apple still sells even older products, it just depends on where you are and what the economic level is.
Click to expand...
Would reducing the number of EUV layers change which equipment they were using though? Is N3E and beyond not using the same etchers, deposition, CMP, EPI, etc. tools as N3? Or were these modules mostly unchanged from the N5 family?
 
nghanayem said:
Would reducing the number of EUV layers change which equipment they were using though? Is N3E and beyond not using the same etchers, deposition, CMP, EPI, etc. tools as N3? Or were these modules mostly unchanged from the N5 family?
Click to expand...

That is something you will have to ask TSMC.
 
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