Making Apple S9 and A16 in Arizona
TSMC Arizona has picked up a second Apple product. In addition to the A16 processor for iPhones, which I shared with you in September, the fab is now producing SiPs (Systems-in-Package) for the Apple Watch, according to my sources. This product is believed to be the S9 SiP (I’ll be honest, I am a little unclear on this, but I’m 99% sure it’s the S9). Recall that TSMC Arizona is manufacturing at N4 (part of the N5-family of process nodes) while the S9 is made in Taiwan at N4 and is a derivation of the A16, so this would make sense.
Note that both of these are previous-generation chips.
Via Ryan Christoffel (MacRumors):
Trump’s administration is expected to impose strict tariffs on products being brought into the US from overseas, but Apple hopes to largely be exempt from any such financial burdens.
The news that Apple is going to start manufacturing the S9 SIP in the U.S. is also likely an attempt to dodge the ITC import ban for the O2 monitoring feature.
Previously:
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AFAIR as per TSCM policy the latest gen products can only be produced in Taiwan.
You might be able to guess why...
Wait, so there's going to be a law on tariffs for everything made abroad, but then Apple will be exempt because of hand waiving magic reasons? I mean Obama protected Apple from bans by the International Trade Commission. Biden, to his credit let the Apple Watch bans stay in place right? But it doesn't shock me Trump would be more similar to Obama as weird as that sounds, when it comes to protectionist policies on American businesses, they aren't that far apart politically.
Honestly, if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. I thought competition would solve all ills, eh America? Less regulation is always good, wait, until our businesses need assistance, then please implement copious amounts of red tape for competitors.
