Apple is now fabricating its S9 chip for the Apple Watch in the U.S. for the first time. The chips are being manufactured at TSMC’s Arizona facility.
As reported by technology columnist Tim Culpan, TSMC has now started producing Apple’s S9 System-in-Package (SiP) chip at its Fab 21 plant near Phoenix, Arizona. The company began producing the A16 Bionic chip for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus there last year.
The S9, based on processing features derived from the A16 Bionic chip, debuted in the Apple Watch Series 9 in late 2023. Both products are produced using TSMC’s 4-nanometer process technology, known as “N4.” The shared technological foundation of the two chips reportedly allowed TSMC to efficiently adapt its Arizona production line to accommodate the S9 alongside the A16.
Admittedly, the Apple Watch Series 9 is no longer in production, although the S9 chip is still used in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which received only cosmetic changes this model year.
TSMC is ramping up production at the Arizona facility, which is TSMC’s first major semiconductor manufacturing site outside Taiwan. However, production capacity at the facility is still in its early stages (Phase 1A), and has a monthly output of approximately 10,000 wafers. In addition to Apple, TSMC also shares the wafers among other clients, such as AMD. Once Phase 1B is completed, which is expected to happen early this year, the facility’s capacity will increase to 24,000 wafers per month.
