Apple Predicted to Expand Lead in Global Semiconductor Purchases in 2012

Apple's "It's Glowtime" iPhone 16 Event: Follow along with our live blog.

Research firm IHS iSuppli today released the results of a new study tracking global semiconductor sales in 2012, predicting that Apple will expand its lead on the strength of 15% growth in the face of a stagnant market. Apple first topped the list in 2010 after quickly rising from third place in 2009 and sixth place in 2008.

Apple is maintaining its lead in semiconductor purchasing because of continuing strong demand for its products, combined with the company’s capability to maintain beneficial relationships with more than 150 suppliers that provide components or offer manufacturing and assembly services.

But aside from maintaining its global dominance in chip purchasing, Apple is also outgrowing the other OEMs and making gains in the various regions of the world. For Apple, this translates into competitive advantages when it comes to manufacturing electronic products.

isuppli semiconductors 2012
The report notes that Apple's increasingly dominant market position, which is estimated to see nearly double the revenue of second-place Samsung this year, gives Apple significant market advantages in terms of controlling pricing, availability, and product roadmaps.

Apple is predicted to continue expanding its lead in 2013, with IHS iSuppli's estimates pegging Apple at 12.3% growth next year, the highest of any top-ten global customer.

Popular Stories

sonny iphone 16 pro colors

New iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Colors Revealed Ahead of Apple Event

Friday September 6, 2024 5:01 am PDT by
Apple is "shaking up its color palette" for its iPhone 16 lineup this year, according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Early iPhone 16 Pro dummy models via Sonny Dickson According to Gurman, the iPhone 16 Pro models will come in a Gold Titanium to replace Blue Titanium, while the Black, White, and Natural Titanium options that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro will remain...
iPhone 16 Pro Mock Article

How Much Will the iPhone 16 Cost?

Friday September 6, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 16 series is expected to launch on September 20 and will compete in a quickly evolving smartphone market, and with some notable upgrades rumored, the new models could see price changes compared to previous years. Successive iPhone models always come with new features and hardware upgrades, but Apple typically does not increase the retail prices as a result....
its glowtime event youtube

Report Details Last-Minute Apple Event Rumors About New iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods

Friday September 6, 2024 4:40 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared his final expectations for Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, providing some new tidbits and clarifications about the new devices set to be announced on Monday. iPhone 16 Pro Along with larger 6.3- and 6.9-inch display sizes, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have bezels that are "now about a third slimmer" for a "sleeker overall look." The...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

iOS 18 Coming Later This Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday September 3, 2024 12:07 pm PDT by
iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update will finally be released for all compatible iPhones soon. Apple should reveal iOS 18's exact release date during its September 9 event, with the most likely possibility being Monday, September 16. Below, we have highlighted eight key new features included in iOS 18. Note that Apple Intelligence is not coming...
apple watch series 9 display

'Noticeably Thinner' Apple Watch Series 10 to Eventually Get Sleep Apnea Detection

Friday September 6, 2024 4:42 am PDT by
The Apple Watch Series 10 will include a new sleep apnea detection feature, but it may not be available as soon as the new model launches, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Sleep apnea detection, which builds on the watch's existing sleep tracking, will attempt to determine if a wearer has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional. Gurman had expressed...
iPhone 16 Side 2 Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Rumored to Break This 7-Year Streak at Apple

Friday September 6, 2024 7:41 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro might break a seven-year streak at Apple. Taiwanese research firm TrendForce today reported that the iPhone 16 Pro will start at $1,099 in the U.S. with 256GB of storage, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage. If this information is accurate, it means that the iPhone 16 Pro will cost more for customers who otherwise would have opted for a...

Top Rated Comments

thewitt Avatar
158 months ago
Apple is not a low ball customer. They demand high quality and delivery performance and they are willing to pay for it. This is a good thing for everyone - supplier and consumer.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rocketman Avatar
158 months ago
Given that Apple is by far larger and by far growing faster by this measure is interesting, but another factor is the average cost per CPU has been dropping as the mix shifts from Intel based Macs to custom silicon in iPhones and iPads. So the unit count is huge as well.

They are #1 and pulling away because they are developing entire new markets, not just fighting over market share scraps. Their efforts to capitalize suppliers gives them an unbeatable competitive advantage on first mover, first access, full order book fulfillment and net cost. That $110B cash asset is being put to great use as collateral for those investments. The cost savings and profit increases add to it. Positive feedback loop.

Rocketman
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JAT Avatar
158 months ago
What do they mean Buying, and how are they comparing Samsung to Apple here?

I mean, if Samsung actually makes things for real, whereas Apple buys thing from other companies, like Samsung (who actually create the physical items)

How can that compare?

Like saying Apple Milk and Samsung Milk.

Apple are buying more milk than Samsung, but forgetting that Samsung actually own their own cows and produce milk for themselves, so of course they won't be buying much milk as they produce the stuff in the 1st place.

Samsung to Samsung sales should be included if they've done their research properly. It would be a sale from one Samsung entity to another.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleScruff1 Avatar
158 months ago
Yesssss. High five anyone?

I know this will make my life better. I can't wait to tell everyone I know. They will be so envious of me.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rocketman Avatar
158 months ago
And Apple is building factories? That is news to me.
You cannot be communicated with.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rocketman Avatar
158 months ago
many more great advancements in the near future
Apple is building infrastructure as fast as governments will let them. HQ, servers, factories, retail stores.

Apple is deploying hardware in a "bleeding edge" fashion on displays, mobile CPU, storage, design and integration, software, software diversity and 3rd party involvement. They are choosing where to push the envelope and not only investing in the R&D and product, but investing in the suppliers themselves to lean forward hard. They are facilitating every network possible since that is not their market segment. They work with carriers to give them more customers than they ever imagined or hoped, and make them so sticky there is no term for it, because it has never happened before.

Loyalty matters in commerce. Shocker! BTW it's called an annuity. c.1671 AD

Rocketman

More memory and mobile GPU for God's sake!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)