Apple is said to be the first company to use TSMC's 3NM chip, which will likely be used on the next iPad generation.
Apple has previously committed to ordering chips with N3 knots from TSMC, although it is still in the 'production risk' level.
This means that the chip may still need repair before the mass production begins. The production itself will begin at the end of 2021.
While starting a mass production by mid-2022, Intel is also said to be a TSMC user who can enjoy the chip.
If Apple would use the N3 chip in the new generation iPad, Intel could only use the chip in the processor line 2023. The chip details are unknown, but they will probably be used in processors for laptops and servers.
"Currently, the amount of chip production designed for Intel is more than the iPad chip ordered by Apple, which uses a 3 nanometer process," said a source quoted by Nikkei Asia.
N3 -based chip commercialization is expected to start in the second half of 2022, so the product that uses the technology will not be available until the end of 2022 or early 2023.
Compared to chips with 5NM processing such as the Apple M1, the N3 chip has 10% to 15% higher, but 30% energy consumption is less. TSMC also expands the chip with the N4 knot, which is reported to be used on the next generation iPhone.
In addition to Apple and Intel, AMD and Huawei are said to be joining the TSMC 3NM chip user list. But they are still waiting until the manufacturing process is more mature.
Tags
NEWS & FACT
