TSMC's Next-Generation Chip Technology for Apple Silicon on Schedule

[MacRumors]

Apple chipmaker TSMC is making progress toward manufacturing 2nm and 1.4nm chips that are likely destined for future generations of Apple silicon, DigiTimes reports.

The manufacturing time frames for mass production of 2nm and 1.4nm chips have now apparently been determined: Trial production of the 2nm node will begin at in the second half of 2024, with small-scale production ramping up in the second quarter of 2025. Notably, TSMC's new plant in Arizona will also join 2nm production efforts. In 2027, facilities in Taiwan will start to shift toward production of 1.4nm chips.

TSMC's first 1.4nm node is officially called "A14" and will follow its "N2" 2nm chips. N2 is scheduled for mass production in late 2025, to be followed by an enhanced "N2P" node in late 2026.

Historically, Apple is among the first companies to adopt new, state-of-the-art chip fabrication technologies. For example, it was the first company to utilize TSMC's 3nm node with the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Apple is likely to follow suit with the chipmaker's upcoming nodes. Apple's most advanced chip designs have historically appeared in the iPhone before making their way to the iPad and Mac lineups. With all of the latest information, here's how the iPhone's chip technology is expected to look going forward:

• iPhone XR and XS (2018): A12 Bionic (7nm, N7)
• iPhone 11 lineup (2019): A13 Bionic (7nm, N7P)
• iPhone 12 lineup (2020): A14 Bionic (5nm, N5)
• iPhone 13 Pro (2021): A15 Bionic (5nm, N5P)
• iPhone 14 Pro (2022): A16 Bionic (4nm, N4P)
• iPhone 15 Pro (2023): A17 Pro (3nm, N3B)
• iPhone 16 Pro (2024): "A18" (3nm, N3E)
• "iPhone 17 Pro" (2025): "A19" (2nm, N2)
• "iPhone 18 Pro" (2026): "A20" (2nm, N2P)
• "iPhone 19 Pro" (2027): "A21" (1.4nm, A14)

The M1 series of Apple silicon chips is based on the A14 Bionic and uses TSMC's N5 node, while the M2 and M3 series use N5P and N3B, respectively. The Apple Watch's S4 and S5 chips use N7, the S6, S7, and S8 chips use N7P, and the latest S9 chip uses N4P.

Each successive TSMC node surpasses its predecessor in terms of transistor density, performance, and efficiency. Late last year, it emerged that TSMC had already demonstrated prototype 2nm chips to Apple ahead of their expected introduction in 2025.

Article Link: TSMC's Next-Generation Chip Technology for Apple Silicon on Schedule

 

[Nimrad]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

 

[vegetassj4]

If a speedometer measures speed, then a nanometer measures nan…. Grandmas? Flatbread?

nan

1. child's word for a grandmother: 2. a flat bread, typically eaten with South…

dictionary.cambridge.org

 

[bodhisattva]

If a speedometer measures speed, then a nanometer measures nan…. Grandmas? Flatbread?

View attachment 2367278

nan

1. child's word for a grandmother: 2. a flat bread, typically eaten with South…

dictionary.cambridge.org

Or reverse and ask what length/size is a speedometer? Millimeter, Centimeter, Speedometer, Kilometer?

 

[bodhisattva]

Wonder if Qualcomm X Elite team is reading this and thinking "well d#$%# it! We had a partial headline for 1 day." Good news of them is the fans required for their chipset can be marketed as green noise machines, and possibly the heat output can be spun to offset heating cost in the winter?

 

[CausticSoda]

If a speedometer measures speed, then a nanometer measures nan…. Grandmas? Flatbread?

View attachment 2367278

nan

1. child's word for a grandmother: 2. a flat bread, typically eaten with South…

dictionary.cambridge.org

Nanometre...

 

[Anaxarxes]

If a speedometer measures speed, then a nanometer measures nan…. Grandmas? Flatbread?

View attachment 2367278

nan

1. child's word for a grandmother: 2. a flat bread, typically eaten with South…

dictionary.cambridge.org

:facepalm

 

[CausticSoda]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

The whole thing is stupid... Angstroms (0.1 nm) follow, or picometres (0.001 nm). But since, as you say, the label is arbitrary they may as well call the next one 38.287 seconds. It all means nothing.

 

[klasma]

Is there chip technology they are doing off schedule?

 

[nickf]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

1 nm = 1000 picometers (or 100 Ångstrom, if you prefer non SI units). Although it's all getting a bit nonsensical by that stage, as we're getting into atomic radius scale. Also, quantum mechanical tunnelling becomes a thing.

 

[Anaxarxes]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

but for tech nodes, after nm we'll see Angstrom (100pm) as the unit

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

The whole thing is stupid... Angstroms (0.1 nm) follow, or picometres (0.001 nm). But since, as you say, the label is arbitrary they may as well call the next one 38.287 seconds. It all means nothing.

If MR included this caveat at the top of every article on the subject, do you suppose that people would still make this comment? Probably.

 

[klasma]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

Pico, femto, atto, zepto, yocto, ronto, quecto. And then they can just go 10⁻³¹, 10⁻³², and so on.

 

[bradman83]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

Within the same company the labels provide a useful description of the miniaturization over the prior generation; the jump from 2nm from 3nm for TSMC's process would result in about a 33% increase in miniaturization and transistor density.

That said you are correct that it's all just marketing. Different processes from different companies have different transistor densities. Intel's 10nm process node is widely believed to be comparable to TSMC's 7nm node, for example (hence why Intel started calling their refreshed 10nm process as Intel 7).

The next marketing term is Angstrom; 10 Angstroms = 1 nanometer

 

[McWetty]

Just in time for me to upgrade to iPhone 18 Pro from 15P. I like these newer 3-year cycles.

 

[blastdoor]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

angstroms. Intel is calling their "2nm" process 20A, and they are allegedly coming out with chips using 20A *this year*. If they actually do that, it will put them back in the process lead for the first time in about a decade.

Apple's M4 will almost certainly still be on a 3nm class process from TSMC and will be competing (at least indirectly) against 20A chips from Intel. x86 sucks, but a full node process advantage might overcome the ISA deficiency.

Remember it was Intel's manufacturing advantage that led Apple to leave the architecturally superior PPC for x86 earlier this century.

 

[aknabi]

If a speedometer measures speed, then a nanometer measures nan…. Grandmas? Flatbread?

View attachment 2367278

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/nan[/URL

http://🤣 Is that a Sad Mac or Dad Mac joke?

 

[Misuteri]

I remember for years in the 90's when everything was about chip speed and bits.

Now everything is about the manufacturing mm of chips, memory etc. This seems to me to be a matter of physics and actual electrical processes now which I'm not terribly familiar with.

Is the big push reducing the MM in chips to reduce power consumption and increase production yields?

 

[aknabi]

I hope they use more of that for CPU increases instead of just bumping GPU (though I think they're reaching a point that if they use the full capabilities of the node process for CPU performance they could hurt the Pro lines as the Mac (book) Air/ minis will have enough juice for even most pro applications.

Edit: Or my never to happen dream... a relaunched performance 13" MacBook in the OG 2015 MacBook 12 form factor (with the modern rounded brick style, but coming in at < 1kg).

 

[Razorpit]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

The whole thing is stupid... Angstroms (0.1 nm) follow, or picometres (0.001 nm). But since, as you say, the label is arbitrary they may as well call the next one 38.287 seconds. It all means nothing.

I think the only unit that makes sense is parsecs. For context you have a standard implementation of the unit, as used in the Kessel Run. Everything just falls in to place. 🤜🤛

​

 

[anthogag]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

In the US "nanometer" (nm) may seem arbitrary for most people because it is metric. Nano is 10^-9, ergo move the decimal point 9 spaces to the left (e.g. 1 nm = 1 x 10^-9 = 0.000000001 metres) 1 metre ~ 3' - 3.37"

1 nm ~ 0.00000003937 inches

 

[High IQ Person]

Remember when TSMC said they were on schedule for 3nm and had years of delays?

 

[nt5672]

Ahh, the hype begins. Can't wait to hear Cook say, "This is simply incredible. The best Apple has ever produced."

Meanwhile, Apps and OS bugs abound. Oh and I can't wait for all that new functionality, not in September 2024, but in February 2025.

 

[MayaUser]

This is impressive

 

[MayaUser]

If I understood it correctly the "x nm" is just arbitrary and not an actual size? What comes after?

yes, its just marketing like M1 M2 M3...all words are invented. but that said it doesnt mean we will not get a lot more transistors , more efficient SoC or keep the same efficiency but go for pure performance only
From this M3 to the M7, we will see a big difference no matter the nm marketing