Fear Of Supply Lack, Apple Borong All 3nm TSMC Chips

Apple has reportedly secured all the first batch of 3-nanometer (N3) chips. (photo: Twitter @AppleSupport)

JAKARTA - To ensure the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro is not short on supply, Apple has reportedly secured all the first batch of 3-nanometer (N3) chips that TSMC has mass-produced since December last year.

According to the DigiTimes report, Apple has obtained 100 percent of the initial N3 supply, which is said to have high yields, despite the higher costs and the decline in founding utilization rates in the first half of 2023.

Mass production of the 3nm chip began at the end of December last year, and casting has gradually increased the processing capacity with monthly output set to reach 45,000 wafers in March.

This 3nm chip is claimed to be used by Apple on System on Chip (SoC) A17 Bionic on the iPhone 15 Pro and high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, while the regular iPhone 15 will use the A16 Bionic.

SoC A17 Bionic can offer an increase in power efficiency of 35 percent compared to the current SoC A16 Bionic. The smaller processor will provide an important specification leap in terms of speed as well.

Apple not only provides high-end iPhone 15 lineup with 3nm-based chips, the company is said to be embedding it on next-generation MacBook Air which will be released later this year.

According to TSMC, its 3nm chip could offer a speed increase of up to 15 percent and a power reduction of up to 30 percent at the same pace compared to its N5 technology.

In addition, TSMC is also poised to switch to N3E, an enhanced version of N3, its first-generation 3nm chip for commercial production in the second half of this year, and Apple will be the first customer to adopt the chip.

Meanwhile, Nikkei Asia reported in September last year that Apple could adopt N3E for the fastest device launch this year, but it's still in the form of rumors, as quoted by MacRumors, Thursday, February 23.