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Apple is said to want to adopt the latest generation of TSMC's manufacturing process as early as the second half of 2022. Nikkei reports that both Apple and Intel are currently testing chip designs using a 3-nanometer manufacturing process. But which device will benefit first?
The latest Nikkei report indicates indicates that Apple's first 3-nanometer chip will likely be used in an iPad (presumably a Pro model). The iPhone 14 will use a larger 4nm SoC due to yield and lead times, but this would still be an improvement over the 5nm chip design found in the iPhone 12 and expected to be used in the iPhone 13. A 4nm chip for the 2022 iPhone was already teased by TrendForce last year and Digitimes in March. Process size in manufacturing roughly measures the distance between transistors on a chip.
3nm chip technology: In addition to the iPhone and iPad, the Mac series also benefits
As the process size decreases, the distances between transistors are reduced. This usually results in a more energy efficient and high performance design. Previously, Apple has transplanted the same chip architecture layout onto a new process size to achieve >20% efficiency and performance gains - with almost no changes to the actual chip design itself. Be that as it may, Cupertino is expected to use 3nm manufacturing for all of its Apple silicon chips in the future, meaning iPhone, iPad and Mac. From a logistical perspective, however, it makes sense to start with the iPad first. (Photo by Unsplash / Brandon Romanchuk)
