Production of TSMC's 3nm process nodes is expected to begin this year. It would be a great advance in efficiency and space, and those who keep the first batch of production will be able to show off to consumers. Its products are expected next year, so the first shipments are on the way, and it looks like all of TSMC's 3nm production would go to Apple.
Intel had shown enormous initial interest. But resource shortages and overstocking of many products in stores would have dampened the initial plans of both companies.
Intel and Apple cut 3nm orders to TSMC
TSMC is currently halfway through its 3nm process. Apple has made an offer to get the first shipments at any price, even to keep all the 3nm silicon that TSMC can produce. Apple would keep all of its supply for this year according to a report, and this would have been possible thanks to Intel.
These latter companies reportedly canceled their 3nm orders for 2023 , leaving them all to Apple, which also reportedly reduced its orders. Lower revenues would be expected in TSMC's reports, but that's because they would be selling cutting-edge technology, with the price that entails.
According to sources consulted by Digitimes, TSMC had planned to produce between 85.000 and 100.000 3nm wafers per month in the fourth quarter. This figure was reportedly reduced to 65.000 wafers, according to the sources, all for Apple. Intel was expected to use TSMC's 3nm process for the GPU in its upcoming Meteor Lake CPUs . Due to the Meteor Lake launch schedule, which is expected to take place in October, it is assumed that Intel has abandoned that plan and opted for TSMC's 4nm or 5nm node.
Apple is expected to use both TSMC's first and second-generation 3nm processes, designated N3(B) and N3E, for the iPhone 15 Pro's A17 chip and its next-generation M3 SoCs. No other company is willing to pay for the first batch of a new technology. The second-generation N3E node will use a simpler design with fewer layers than its first iteration, and is expected to appeal to more customers due to its lower price . Its release is planned for later this year and through 2024.
