In a recent interview, TSMC founder Morris Chang revealed that Apple CEO Tim Cook chose TSMC over Intel as the iPhone chip supplier in 2011, despite Intel already supplying processors for Apple's Mac lineup. Cook's decisive decision stemmed from his belief that Intel lacked the foundry capabilities necessary for manufacturing Apple's chips. Chang noted that TSMC's success was rooted in its responsive customer service approach, in stark contrast to Intel's history of failing to accommodate customer needs. This strategic partnership allowed TSMC to become Apple's exclusive chip manufacturer, greatly accelerating its growth, while Intel's foundry business struggled for years until a recent strategic overhaul aimed at attracting external clients.

Key Points:

• Tim Cook rejected Intel's offer in favor of TSMC in 2011.
• Cook believed Intel did not possess the necessary foundry capabilities.
• TSMC's responsive customer service helped build trust compared to Intel's approach.
• This decision established TSMC as Apple’s exclusive chip manufacturer.
• Intel struggled in the foundry market but recently revamped its manufacturing strategy to attract external clients, including Amazon AWS.
  Link to Article