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Comment by alexb_ | Hacker News Reader

Do you think Apple will stop using TSMC sometime in the future? Berkshire does own 1/20th of Apple, and I wonder if sentiment from one of their largest investors that TSMC is not a safe investment might sway them working with other chip manufacturers instead. Or maybe even furthering Apple's vertical integration by having them make the chips too (we're talking far, far future here, obviously they can't set up chip manufacturing within even a decade)

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I'd probably lean towards Apple making their own chips, it would definitely seem to be a logical continuation of Apple's agenda, and they are certainly among the few companies that have the capital to make it happen. They already seem to be close to running into issues in terms of securing chip supply (e.g. having to purchase 90% of TSMC 3nm process ahead of time), so I suspect they already have plans to expand into chip production in the long term future.

Apple has always had a multi supplier strategy. They also used Samsung at 1 point (and still do). It's whatever works at Apple so no difference. They'd eagerly switch as needed.

Not sure how many producers have the available long term supply to meet Apple's demand. Samsung might already have contractual obligations for their short term supply with other manufacturers so it might not quite be as straightforward as just switching overnight.

Intel has already puts its arms up for ARM production as well.

Probably not at the process sizes or quantities Apple's buying up anytime soon, though.

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