2022 iPhones and Macs could feature 3nm chips

The 2022 iPhones and Macs could feature chips built on the 3nm process, as Apple’s main chip supplier TSMC plans to begin mass production of 3nm chips for Apple in the second half of the year. next year, according to a preview of an upcoming report. by DigiTimes.

The paid preview of the full report, to be released tomorrow, reads:

TSMC is on track to scale its 3nm processing technology to volume production in the second half of 2022 for Apple devices, whether they are iPhones or Macs, according to industry sources.

Earlier in June, TSMC reportedly ramped up capacity to start production of 3nm chips, but DigiTimes at the time, he refrained from mentioning Apple as a potential initial beneficiary of the new process. Today’s preview directly means that just two years after unveiling chips based on the 5nm process, Apple could plan to go straight to 3nm as early as next year.

Apple has reportedly already reserved all of TSMC’s production capacity for 4nm chips for Apple’s silicon Macs. This report, however, does not have a timeline as to when Macs with 4nm chips can debut.

The A14 Bionic chip, first introduced in an updated iPad Air and later in the iPhone 12 series, is built on the 5nm process. Compared to previous processes, the smaller architecture offers improved performance and increased energy efficiency. For this year’s iPhone, Apple will be using an improved version of the 5nm process.

Tomorrow’s full report will likely offer more color regarding Apple’s plan to deploy chips based on the 3nm process. We will not fail to leave MacRumors’ readers know if the new report shares anything important.