> You're focusing on a technicality while missing the bigger picture. These leaks frequently include board layout files, so yes, competitors see the exact routing and component placement.
The board files were not leaked.
I don’t know what you think you’re talking about, but it’s not relevant to the article and the leak we’re discussing.
> Seeing the complete power delivery network and high-speed routing for that specific chip is a masterclass. When they see 'a capacitor here,' they learn Apple's validated strategy for handling a transient load or suppressing a specific EMI source on a cutting-edge processor. That engineering principle is absolutely portable to their own custom silicon from Qualcomm or Samsung.
It is not portable nor priceless.
I’m telling you: I have experience doing this and working with these tools. Nothing you’re saying about this topic is accurate.
Fine, let's grant that only the schematic was leaked. The conclusion is the same. A schematic is not a mere netlist; it's an architectural document. It reveals the entire power delivery architecture - the choice of PMICs, the topology of every buck converter and LDO, and the meticulous partitioning of power rails for the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. That power strategy alone is a goldmine of portable R&D.
Furthermore, it details the complete bill of materials and the exact circuit design for every high-speed interface. To suggest this knowledge isn't portable is to claim that the principles of designing a stable power network or a clean USB4 interface are somehow unique to Apple. Any experienced engineer knows that learning from a competitor's complete, validated, and mass-produced system is an invaluable shortcut. An appeal to personal authority doesn't change these fundamental realities of hardware development.
The board files were not leaked.
I don’t know what you think you’re talking about, but it’s not relevant to the article and the leak we’re discussing.
> Seeing the complete power delivery network and high-speed routing for that specific chip is a masterclass. When they see 'a capacitor here,' they learn Apple's validated strategy for handling a transient load or suppressing a specific EMI source on a cutting-edge processor. That engineering principle is absolutely portable to their own custom silicon from Qualcomm or Samsung.
It is not portable nor priceless.
I’m telling you: I have experience doing this and working with these tools. Nothing you’re saying about this topic is accurate.