Apple will reportedly use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 2nd-generation 3nm process for its M3 and A17 chips that will feature in next year’s Mac computers and iPhone handsets, respectively. Reports suggest that these chips will enter production next year and that the Cupertino company will release these products in 2023. The 2nd generation 3nm process developed by TSMC is known as N3E. This enhanced process is believed to provide improved performance and energy efficiency compared to the 1st generation N3 3nm process chips.
According to A Report According to Nikkei Asia, Apple will use M3 and A17 chips in products next year. TSMC will reportedly start manufacturing these chips next year and will use its second-generation N3E 3nm process. The report claims that these new chips will be more powerful and energy efficient than the N3 3nm chips.
Apple may also use TSMC’s N3 3nm process for some of its upcoming iPad models. The report does not mention the iPad model equipped with this chipset. The Cupertino company is gearing up to launch an iPad Pro model with chips manufactured using TSMC’s 5nm process. This iPad Pro model is expected to enter mass production in 4Q22.
The Nikkei Asia report further suggests that Apple may feature the new A17 chips only on iPhone Pro models coming in 2023, similar to the iPhone 14 series launched in the global market last week.
To recall, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were recently launched featuring the new A16 Bionic SoC. However, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are equipped with last year’s A15 Bionic SoC.
Earlier reports suggested that Apple is using TSMC’s 3nm process for the M2 Pro chip, which could be included in the company’s new lineup of 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops.
