Apple to be one of the First to Adopt TSMC’s Next-Generation 3nm Chips

Apple will be amongst the first to adopt Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s (TSMC) next-generation 3nm chip, alongside Intel. Both companies are poised to begin integrating the new chip as early as 2022.

According to a report from Nikkei, sources have said both Apple and Intel are testing their chip designs with TSMC’s 3-nanometer production technology. The commercial output of devices utilizing TSMC’s latest chips is said to begin as early as the second half of next year.

TSMC’s next-generation 3nm chips as said to incorporate technology that may increase computing performance by 10 to 15 percent, when compared to the 5nm chips. Power consumption is also said to be reduced by upwards of 25 to 30 percent.

Sources have also told Nikkei that Apple is looking to integrate TSMC’s 3nm chip into its iPad next year. Apple is currently utilizing TSMC’s 5nm chip in its iPad Air. Interestingly enough, it’s being said that Apple will not be integrating the new chip into next year’s iPhone. Instead, 2022’s iPhone will “make use of the intermediate 4-nm tech for scheduling reasons.”

When looking at how Intel will be utilizing TSMC’s latest technology, the company is said to be working on at least two 3nm projects. Sources have said the projects will be based around “design central processing units for notebooks and data center servers”. Intel is hoping it can achieve market dominance once lost to AMD and Nvidia. Though mass production of these chips is said to begin by the end of next year. The chip volume for Intel is said to be far more than that of Apple.