Apple-TSMC: The Partnership That Built Modern Semiconductors

This is a well-written, well-researched piece, but some of the narratives are off the mark. For example:

> Phase 1 (Courtship, 2010-2014): TSMC needed Apple for legitimacy

TSMC was already the world's largest pure-play foundry long before Apple walked through the door, controlling more than 50% of market revenue. Although vertically-integrated microprocessor businesses had better-performing processes (Intel, AMD/IBM with PD-SOI), TSMC was head of the pack in the foundry world (competitors: UMC, Chartered, SMIC, etc).

> What if Apple chose Intel in 2014?

How would they have done that? Intel didn't even offer a foundry service at that time, and it would have taken years for Intel to adapt to a foundry model (one which publishes a "process design kit" for use by industry-standard EDA software to design and simulate circuits).