Apple M3 could be months away.
Apple’s upcoming 3nm chipsets, the A17 Bionic and M3, which are produced by TSMC, are facing low yields. Here’s what we know.
Apple’s upcoming 3nm chipsets, the A17 Bionic and M3, which are produced by TSMC, are facing low yields according to a recent report by EE Times. This could lead to a shortage of chipsets for the iPhone 15 Pro and next-generation Macs.
CC Wei, CEO of TSMC, commented on this matter stating, “As our customers’ demand for N3 (3nm) exceeds our supply capacity, we expect N3 to be fully deployed by 2023, supported by both HPC and smartphone applications.” This suggests that TSMC is struggling to keep up with demand for 3nm chipsets, but they are expected to gradually increase their yield over the coming quarters.
TSMC is currently the only manufacturer, besides Samsung, that has the capacity to produce 3nm chipsets. Yield for TSMC’s A17 and M3 chipsets is reportedly 55%, meaning there may not be enough chipsets to produce the iPhone 15 Pro and M3-based computers to meet expected demand. However, the report suggests that TSMC is on track to increase revenue by approximately 5+ points each quarter.
If TSMC succeeds in increasing its revenues, Apple should be able to meet demand for its new devices. The shift to 3nm from the current 4nm of the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic is expected to result in both power and efficiency gains, which could make the iPhone 15 Pro an attractive update. In addition, the updated camera sensor and the inclusion of USB-C are expected to further improve the user experience.
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