Report: iPhones Macs expected to use new 3nm fab processes


A report from Nikkei expects Apple to be at the front of the line for chipmaker TSMC's new fab process. The new 3nm process is expected to appear in chips for next year's iPhone and Mac models.

Nikkei Asia:

The A17 mobile processor currently under development will be mass-produced using TSMC's N3E chipmaking tech, expected to be available in the second half of next year, according to three people familiar with the matter. The A17 will be used in the premium entry in the iPhone lineup slated for release in 2023, they said.

N3E is an upgraded version of TSMC's current 3-nanometer production tech, which is only starting to go into use this year. The next generation of Apple's M3 chip for its Mac offerings is also set to use the upgraded 3-nm tech, two sources added.

The new smaller process should allow for more efficient designs for performance and energy use.