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Comment by onceiwasthere | Hacker News Reader

Being almost completely uninformed on the details of Apple/TSMC's dealings, I'm curious, would Apple ever position themselves to get into chip fabrication? I'm sure there are big reasons this is unlikely but it seems like if anyone could do it, it's Apple.

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IT is billions of dollars to get a chip fab. I know of several companies that have looked into it (our core competency is manufacturing - why not add chips to the list of things we make and get out of these supply issues..), but the cost to get into it is far too high. Though I suspect some of those companies are regretting the decision over the past 2 years, they could have made the investment back just because we can make those chips you need for a price (to others who can't get needed chips at any price)

Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't started yet. If TSMC puts up too much of a fight, they might start internally considering how they would get into chip fabrication. They've already done everything else to great success (and to much surprise), so while the problem seems insurmountable, maybe Apple would be able to do what nobody else has been able to do in decades (aside from the Chinese with significant state investment).

If Apple isn't at least working on how to bring chip manufacturing in-house I'd be incredibly surprised. They have $48 billion in cash on hand, they at least have worked out a plan on how they would do it if needed.

It's risky because if they do it, they have to consistently be as good or better than TSMC, year after year. Makes more sense than trying to build a car though.

They only have to be "good enough" with some wins, Apple was able to survive the mediocre Intel performance and likely could survive some mediocre iPhone chip performance.

But they won't do it unless they need to, or they think they can get a major win, and even then likely though a subsidiary.

this is such a fantasy, what do yoy expect them to do next, launch thieir own communication network?

Thats the easiest thing they could try.

what does apple manufacture themselves? They don't even assemble their own products. It would be surprising if apple suddenly got into one of the most risky and expensive industries, not the other way around.

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