With an estimated spend of $17.5 billion in the last year alone, Apple surpassed Hewlett-Packard (HP) to become the world’s largest buyer of semiconductors in 2010, reportsIHS iSuppli.
Apple’s investment in chips for its iOS and desktop devices rose by 80% from the year before, with the company incorporating large amounts of flash memory into its iPhone, iPod and iPad devices. The rise correlates with Apple’s increase in device sales, shipping more than 48 million iPhones last year, a rise of 89%.
It’s Mac sales also rose, not as vigorously as its handheld devices, growing by 14% in the same period.
iSuppli estimates that Apple embeds around $80 worth of semiconductors into an iPhone, combining to account for more than a third of Apple’s total expenditure.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Apple beat Samsung Electronics and Dell to top position, ranking third and fourth respectively. Nokia, the world’s largest mobile manufacturer, ranked fifth.
Story byMatt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him(show all)Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him onTwitter, subscribe to his updates onFacebookand catch up with him onGoogle+.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
