Apple has already leveraged TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, particularly with the M4 chip powering its latest 13-inch and 11-inch iPad Pro models. While these tablets only represent a small fraction of TSMC’s revenue for this cutting-edge technology, the upcoming iPhone 16 is set to make a bigger impact. Apple plans to introduce the A18 and A18 Pro chips across its four new iPhone models, significantly boosting TSMC’s annual revenue by 34 percent.
The rest of the revenue surge is likely to come from industry heavyweights Qualcomm and MediaTek, who are also set to release their own 3nm SoCs to compete with Apple’s latest offerings. Economic Daily News had originally predicted a 26-29 percent increase in TSMC’s 3nm revenue for 2024, but this estimate has now been revised to 31-34 percent, thanks to substantial orders from key clients like Apple.
Reports indicate that Apple might mass-produce up to 100 million A18 chipsets in anticipation of high demand for the iPhone 16 series. Another estimate from Nikkei Asia suggests Apple aims to manufacture 90 million iPhone 16 units for 2024, marking a 10 percent increase compared to the iPhone 15 series released in 2023.
Known as ‘N3E,’ TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process is expected to deliver higher yields and better power efficiency than the more expensive ‘N3B’ process. While Apple’s A17 Pro from last year was fabricated on the older 3nm node, it didn’t fully capitalize on its advanced manufacturing capabilities. However, with improved cooling solutions, the A18 and A18 Pro chips could potentially surpass performance and power efficiency expectations.
As the iPhone 16 announcement looms, it’s the perfect time to dive deeper into what Apple’s new chipsets will offer. From specification upgrades to feature enhancements, a detailed comparison awaits for those interested in the latest tech revelations from Apple.
