TSMC: 3 nm engraving for the iPhone 15 chip

TSMC is preparing to switch to 3nm etching for chips and expects to be ready for the second half of 2022. This will be too tight for the iPhone 14s of 2022. However, it should not be a problem for the A17 chip on the iPhone 15 in 2023.

For now, TSMC offers 5nm engraving. Apple is taking advantage of this with the A14 chip of the iPhone 12, as well as the M1 chip of the latest Macs and the latest iPad Pro. This year, the A15 chip which will equip the iPhone 13 will retain an engraving in 5 nm, but in a so-called “improved” form. TSMC will then switch to 4nm for the Mac chip, normally in late 2021 or early 2022.

The 3nm engraving will offer a 15% increase in performance and a 30% improvement in energy efficiency compared to the 5nm engraving. These improvements are not specific to Apple chips, but it is obvious that the next iPhones will improve on performance and power consumption.

Besides engraving, there is a shortage of chips which started a few months ago now and should be relevant for a little while. TSMC (and others) have warned their customers that this will imply a price hike on the chips. But the situation with Apple could be different because the two groups have a good and long relationship, and their agreements are signed in advance.