Apple wants all of TSMC's 2nm chips, so they sent Jeff Williams in secret
Apple is preparing to start the production of chips using a 2-nanometer process, and sent COO Jeff Williams to Taiwan with a view to securing the first batch.
Processor wafers [TSMC]
Apple has been proactive in pushing its chips to use the latest and smallest scale manufacturing processes, with its latest chips using a 3-nanometer foundry process. Now, it is poised to shift to 2nm.
Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams went on a secret visit to Taiwan, sources of UDN claim. The trip involved a visit to chip partner TSMC, with TSMC president Wei Zhejia in attendance to receive the COO.
The trip was reportedly to discuss 2nm production, as well as the development of more AI-forward chips, with TSMC set to produce them.
TSMC does not comment on market rumors nor about individual clients, like Apple.
The potential rewards for Apple placing the first order of 2nm chips could be massive for TSMC. Apple's payment to TSMC for the first 2nm batch could be the equivalent of TSMC's annual revenue, the report claims, and it could reach a new revenue high of NT$600 billion ($17.3 billion).
Previous rumors have said Apple has been designing 2nm processors, with the aim of producing the chips via its long-time chip partner. As for when Apple's products will use 2nm chips, consumers may have to wait until the iPhone 17 Pro in late 2025.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Still, what would Apple want to do with all of those additional transistors that they are "allegedly" purchasing?
My guess would be iPhones and some type of updated Mac....and obviously more M4 iPads.
Intel cancels N3 orders; TSMC pares back N3 expansion - Electronics Weekly
TSMC 3nm Chip Delay Might Happen as Intel Cancels Order!
I suppose we're all waiting for picometer chips.
Which is why the M3 Ultra never materialised (though this was probably decided before any M3 Macs shipped) and the iPad skipped the generation entirely and went straight to M4, which is on N3E.
N3E will also be directly adaptable to follow-up generations, while N3B —> N3E needs a complete reëngineering for the new tech and tooling.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/21394/tsmc-performanceoptimized-3nm-process-technology-on-track-for-mass-production-this-year
Remember yields will not be great at first.
presumably the cost per transistor of an ultra is higher than for an A chip because yields are lower for bigger chips.
Now watch the various governmental powers try to find a "problem" with the business deal. "Oh no. Apple is being successful again. Time to break out the baseball bat. Now where is that healthy kneecap..."
With the 3nm M4 single core score being so great, that translates into the multicore scores as well. Add a ton more transistors and... wow.
Gaming might be another driver, though given Apple's history, I wouldn't expect such.
I postulated years ago in an AI post that Apple could enter the massively multiplayer game market, and stream Metal code in lieu of finished frames, so that edge processing is still a driver for hardware. It's an interesting concept, and gains importance as the last of the Intel processors drop off. I doubt we will ever see such a thing.
I just don't see that Apple is buying that asserted level of production that the article claims.