TSMC has embarked on an exciting new venture by producing another Apple chip right here in the United States, focusing this time on the company’s wearable technology. Apple’s strategic growth in the region is reflected by its expanding partnership with TSMC, which remains its main chip supplier. The latest development involves the production of the Apple Watch’s S9 chip, now being manufactured in Arizona at TSMC’s state-of-the-art facility.
These advanced S9 chips for the Apple Watch are crafted using TSMC’s sophisticated 4nm process technology, echoing the same precision features found in the A16 Bionic chip. This particular production takes place at TSMC’s Fab 1 plant near Phoenix, Arizona—a site that has already been active in producing the A16 Bionic chips for Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Apple’s decision to start chip production in the US dates back to September of last year, using existing chip models while laying the groundwork for future technological innovations.
Launched with the Apple Watch Series 9 in 2023, the S9 chip leverages the power of the A16 Bionic’s design, delivering improved computational and graphical performance. These enhancements demonstrate Apple’s commitment to pushing the envelope of wearable technology.
This marks a significant milestone for TSMC as it widens its production horizons. Besides Apple, TSMC counts several high-profile partners, including AMD, contributing to the plant’s diverse production lineup. They’ve already begun production of AMD’s Ryzen 9000 “Granite Ridge” CPUs. Though this Arizona facility is TSMC’s first outside of Taiwan, it’s clear that they are aiming for substantial growth, albeit currently operating at early-stage production capacity.
Recent reports indicate that the plant is currently rolling out about 10,000 wafers every month, a capacity that serves not just Apple and AMD, but several other clients as well. Excitingly, a second phase of development at the facility is projected to more than double this output, potentially reaching a capacity of 24,000 wafers monthly.
Stay tuned for further updates as TSMC continues to expand its influence in the US technology landscape and further strengthens its position as a leader in chip manufacturing.
