Apple has employed the use of TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process in the past, as the company’s M4 powering the new 13-inch and 11-inch iPad Pro models was mass produced on this technology. However, the company’s tablets barely contribute to the semiconductor giant’s revenue for this cutting-edge node, but that is where the iPhone 16 launch will come into play. It is reported that Apple will unveil the A18 and A18 Pro for its four models, and increased orders of these SoCs will partially contribute to TSMC’s 34 percent annual revenue boost.
The remainder of that revenue bump will be thanks to Qualcomm and MediaTek, who will present their own 3nm SoCs to take on the A18 and A18 Pro
A previous estimate published by Economic Daily News reveals that TSMC’s 3nm revenue in 2024 would receive a 26-29 percent bump, highlighting that the foundry behemoth continued to receive an influx of orders. However, that figure has risen to between 31-34 percent, and that is thanks to major players, including Apple, who have placed a significant number of orders with its supply chain partner.
Earlier, it was reported that the trillion-dollar firm would mass produce up to 100 million A18 chipsets as it would potentially prepare for high demand for the iPhone 16 series. However, a different estimate from Nikkei Asia revealed that Apple had informed its supply chain to mass manufacture 90 million iPhone 16 units for 2024, resulting in a 10 percent increase compared to the iPhone 15 series that launched in 2023.
TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process is also known as ‘N3E’ and is said to bring in higher yields, coupled with slightly better power efficiency than the pricier ‘N3B’ process. Apple’s A17 Pro from last year was fabricated on the older 3nm node, but its performance or power-saving attributes did not reflect on its advanced manufacturing process. Perhaps with an improved cooling solution, the A18 and A18 Pro will exceed our expectations in this regard.
The iPhone 16 announcement will kick off in a few hours, and if you want to learn more about Apple’s upcoming chipsets and what specification and feature differences they might flaunt, make sure to check out our in-depth comparison because there are a ton of things that you might have missed out on.
News Source: Economic Daily News
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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