Apple reportedly amassed A15 chips for iPhone 13 launch

Apple has ordered an additional 100 million A15 chips from its longtime chipset maker Taiwan Semiconductor, according to supply chain sources cited by Chinese tech news site CNBeta. The figure indicates the potential expectations for a large-scale launch of the next range of iPhone 13, with chipsets produced using TSMC’s 5 nanometer process.

If correct, the order would represent a significant increase over production of the iPhone 12 line last year, which would have included a pre-launch order for some 75 million chipsets. Earlier this month, a report from 9to5Mac suggested that a new iPad Mini with A15 chip could also be on the way.

Supply could be a way to avoid the kind of iPhone shortage Apple experienced last year, an issue that has forced the company to postpone its usual launch from September until October.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. The new iPhone 13 lineup is set to arrive this fall, with rumors of new features including bigger batteries, a 120 MHz refresh rate, and an always-on Apple Watch-like screen.