Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-09-19 11:49Group 1 - Apple has secured over 50% of TSMC's initial 2nm capacity, even reserving an entire manufacturing facility, which puts competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek at a disadvantage in the upcoming chip race [1][2] - TSMC's 2nm process is expected to begin mass production this quarter, marking a significant milestone for the semiconductor industry [1] - Apple contributed 22% of TSMC's revenue in 2024, amounting to $19.4 billion, providing strong leverage in capacity allocation negotiations [1] Group 2 - TSMC has fully allocated its first batch of 2nm capacity at the Baoshan plant to Apple, while competitors will rely on the Kaohsiung plant for their needs, highlighting Apple's priority status in TSMC's production system [2] - Apple plans to launch four new chips based on the 2nm process in 2026, further solidifying its technological leadership in mobile processors [2] Group 3 - Apple's aggressive strategy for 2nm capacity mirrors its earlier approach during the initial 3nm process, where it gained a first-mover advantage, leaving competitors trailing for a year [3] - High development costs, such as the estimated $1 billion for the M3 series chip, have hindered competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek from keeping pace with Apple's advancements [3] Group 4 - In response to Apple's large-scale orders and other clients' capacity demands, TSMC is actively expanding its 2nm capacity, aiming to increase monthly output to 100,000 wafers by 2026 [4] - TSMC's Arizona facility is expected to reach a monthly capacity of 200,000 wafers by 2028, balancing the needs of major clients like Apple while maintaining a diverse customer base [4]