TSMC's Chip Revenue From Apple Predicted to Grow Nearly 25% in 2022 as Apple Silicon Transition Nears Completion

[MacRumors]

Chip supplier TSMC's Apple business is predicted to grow almost 25 percent this year as the transition to Apple silicon nears completion and the two companies grow closer ties, DigiTimes reports.

Apple is said to be expecting shipments of chips for new iPhones and other devices from TSMC in the first half of June, according to sources speaking to DigiTimes. In addition to year-on-year growth of chips for iPhones in 2022, TSMC is also expected to "substantially" grow its shipments of M-series chips as Apple completes the transition to its own custom silicon chips and "will this year totally wean itself off Intel CPUs for its Mac series."

The report added that TSMC is expected to remain Apple's sole chip supplier for the foreseeable future, with Samsung experiencing problems with advanced process yield performance and Intel unlikely to receive orders from Apple.

In total, TSMC is estimated to make $17 billion in revenue singularly from fulfilling Apple orders in 2022, up from $13.8 billion in 2021. Although Apple's semiconductor manufacturing supply chain "remains little affected" by ongoing lockdowns in China, other parts of Apple's supply chain may be severely impacted depending on how long lockdowns persist, which the report speculates could lead to Apple being forced to delay the launch of new iPhone models this year.

Moreover, Apple is said to have already placed orders for 2nm chips to be fulfilled by TSMC in 2025. The report also claims that Apple and TSMC are jointly developing 1nm chips for use in augmented-reality head-mounted devices and Apple's vehicle project.

Article Link: TSMC's Chip Revenue From Apple Predicted to Grow Nearly 25% in 2022 as Apple Silicon Transition Nears Completion

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

That's because the Apple Silicon chips are awesome! Can't wait for the M2 series of chips.

 

[RedDeliciousPinkLady]

I always wondered why they're made on round platters like that, seems like some waste on the not-entirely-made bits? But also the thought has never left my head so maybe there's a good explanation. idk.

 

[zv470]

I always wondered why they're made on round platters like that, seems like some waste on the not-entirely-made bits? But also the thought has never left my head so maybe there's a good explanation. idk.

Interesting question, I also wondered... google-sensei says "This is due to the process of dipping a seed crystal into molten silicon and rotating and slowly extracting as the crystal grows. This is also known as the popular Czochralski method. Since the product is already circular in shape, the wafers are cut into that same shape."

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I always wondered why they're made on round platters like that, seems like some waste on the not-entirely-made bits? But also the thought has never left my head so maybe there's a good explanation. idk.

Because, after they have been printed, they need to go to quality assurance, and the fastest way is just to toss them down the fabric hall like frisbees to the appropriate people. If they were square, it of course wouldn't work as well. That is also why some chips are binned, as on occasion, the frisbeewafer hits an intern, and therefore they get a few dents and bruises (The wafers and the interns).

 

[ajfahey]

Is that a before or after inflation effects?

 

[DeepIn2U]

Is that a before or after inflation effects?

I don’t think it really matters because the orders are still coming in in the coming in higher.

I wonder if it’s a smart move to invest in TSMC and then Apple to also do so, By purchasing out right still keep the engineers but also for the purpose of vertical integration. They’ve already done this with several chip companies.

 

[name99]

"TSMC is also expected to "substantially" grow its shipments of M-series chips"

This is an amazing claim. The only macs still using Intel are
- the mac pro
- a particular mini config
both of which are hardly large sellers.

So this implies that either
- Apple/TSMC expects existing mac sales to grow substantially, or
- Apple to introduce a new "market" for these chips (like internal Apple use in data centers)

Both of which seem very interesting outcomes. My guess is that the second is perhaps poised to happen; M1 got all the basics in place, M2 (in particular configurations, mostly heavy on CPU and light on GPU) is ready to start data centering soon. (Of course, in usual Apple style, we may not learn about this until a year or two after the fact!)

 

[adamw]

Thanks TMSC and Apple! Keep pumping out those chips for Apple and others, and all Apple customer should benefit over both the short and long term, with improved and more productive models of devices that use Apple Silicon chips!

 

[_Spinn_]

Apple has to be TSMC's biggest customer by far.

 

[svish]

Apple silicon chips are excellent and TSMC continues to deliver Apple’s requirements!! Good for both Apple and TSMC.

 

[nimitz9]

This is why TSMC is building that wafer fab in Phoenix. Apple has probably already booked their place in the production line even though the plant is still a year+ away from production.LOL

 

[Matouš Pikous]

I always wondered why they're made on round platters like that, seems like some waste on the not-entirely-made bits? But also the thought has never left my head so maybe there's a good explanation. idk.

It is because the platter is actually a single crystal which grows in a cylindrical shape (due to some specific process of growing). Analogically, brilliants are wastefull if diamonds just had the right shape at the beginning.