Apple has already ordered the initial production capacity of 4nm chips destined for its next-generation Apple Silicon-powered Macs. Apple has booked the capacity with its chipmaking partner TSMC.
From today’s report:
Apple has already booked the initial capacity of TSMC’s N4 for its new-generation Mac series, the sources indicated. Apple has also contracted TSMC to make its next-generation iPhone processor dubbed A15, built using the foundry’s N5 Plus or N5P process node, the sources said.
TSMC is expected to kick off production for Apple’s A15 chip that will power the upcoming iPhone 13 series by the end of May, the sources noted.
Apple currently uses the 5nm process for its M1 chip, which powers the current Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models. The A14 Bionic chip, which powers the current iPad Air and iPhone 12 lineup, is also based on the 5nm chip fabrication process.
The DigiTimes report doesn’t provide a timeframe for the debut of the new 4nm chips, but it does mention that TSMC will move to volume production of the new process in Q4 of 2021, ahead of the previously set 2022 timeframe. The report also says Apple plans to use an enhanced version of the 5nm process for the A15 chip, destined for the iPhone 13. Production of that chip is expected to get underway by the end of May.