Apple aims to be the first company to use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s latest chip manufacturing technology. Chips based on the improved N3E process will be introduced to iPhones and Macs next year.
The A17 mobile processor, currently under development, will be manufactured using TSMC’s N3E technology. It is expected to be available in the second half of next year. According to insiders, the A17 is used in the premium version of the iPhone, which is scheduled for release in 2023 and in the production of the Apple M3 processor for Mac.
N3E is an upgraded version of TSMC’s 3nm technology that went live this year. Nanometer refers to the width of the space between transistors on a chip. The lower the value, the more transistors can be placed on the circuit – making processors more powerful, but also more complex and expensive. The use of the N3E process technology will improve the performance and energy efficiency of the chips. The upgraded production technology is also more economical.
As TSMC’s largest customer and the main driver of new semiconductor technologies, Apple remains the company’s most loyal partner in the introduction of new manufacturing processes. However, Apple is likely to use different manufacturing processes for greater flexibility and differentiation in its lineup of devices.
TSMC plans to launch first 2nm chips by 2026
Source: Nikkei ASIA
