Is TSMC playing favorites?
Apple had presumably ordered components for up to 80 million iPhone 12 units but the actual number manufactured this year may end up being 74 million at most, and the rest will be deferred into 2021.
Additionally, the company is also expected to boost orders for the new iPads. Per one estimate, around 27 million units of the new iPad models will be produced between September and December.
In a nuthsell, TSMC has its hands full with Apple products, which explains why Qualcomm has gone back to Samsung.
Mass production of the Snapdragon 875 has also kicked off
TSMC has been manufacturing flagship Snapdragon processors for the last few years.
Does that mean TSMC-made chips will perform better? Well, it’s not as straightforward as it sounds and a lot of other factors also come into play. This also explains why often times phones powered by the same SoC feel different.