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Apple fans eagerly awaiting the release of the iPhone 15 Pro models may face supply shortages due to issues with the manufacturing of the latest 3-nanometer chips. TSMC, the company responsible for producing the chips, is said to be “straining” to meet the demand for the highly anticipated devices, according to a report from EE Times.
Industry analysts suggest that TSMC is encountering problems with tools and yield, which is affecting the volume of production of the new chip technology. The company is manufacturing the 3nm A17 chips that are expected to be used in the iPhone 15 Pro models, as well as the Mac-series “M3” chips, which are also set to be built on the 3nm process.
Arete Research analyst Brett Simpson estimates that TSMC’s yields for A17 and M3 processors are at around 55%, which is considered appropriate for the current stage of development. He also notes that TSMC is on schedule to boost yields by more than five points each quarter, which should help improve the situation.
However, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei stated that demand from customers exceeds the company’s ability to supply, despite reaching “high-volume production with good yield”. TSMC will ramp up production of A17 and M3 chips for Apple during the second half of the year, while also working on chips for Intel, AMD, and Nvidia.
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TSMC’s 3-nanometer chip technology is cutting-edge, and the company is one of only two manufacturers, along with Samsung, capable of producing chips on a 3nm process. Compared to the current 4nm process used for Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro chips, the 3nm process provides significant speed and efficiency improvements.
As TSMC continues to develop its chip manufacturing capabilities, it plans to move on to 2nm production in the coming years. The company is expected to start production on the 2nm node in 2025.