A Apple was the first company to contact Taiwanese microprocessor manufacturer TSMC to discuss its 3nm processor manufacturing process. This is according to the United Daily News, which also points out that the American manufacturer wants to count on the Taiwanese company to supply components for the next generation of M series chips, for the next Macs and, later, for A series chips, for future iPads and iPhones.

In processors, the manufacturing process measured in nanometers (nm) indicates the size of each transistor (basic element) in the processor. The smaller it is, the more compact and, potentially, the more powerful it is. Surpassing the “old” 7nm standard from 2018, the 5nm process only arrived in practice this year. The 3nm process is expected to arrive in 2022.

In 2020 the Apple has invested heavily in TSMC's 5nm processors for the M1 chips in its Macs and the A14 chips in its iPads and iPhones. The 2020 iPad Air, for example, featured a 14nm A5 Bionic. Now, everything indicates that the intention is to continue investing in business with TSMC, already counting on the 3nm processors, which aim to increase the performance of the chips, in addition to optimizing the energy consumption of devices.

TSMC has also been putting a lot of money into its projects. Recently, the Vida Celular reported that the company invested around US$17 billion in 2020 to maintain its prominent position in the chip market. Among the advances in this regard is a factory in the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) to 3nm chip production in 2022.

Forecast, planning and target

The United Daily News report states that TSMC is forecasting to produce at least 300 million chips based on 3nm processors. With the Apple showing great interest, TSMC can feel even more confident in their projects focused on this type of technological advancement. There are plans for the Taiwanese company to begin experimental production of 2021nm chips in 3.

According to industry insights, TSMC is testing an annual production target of 600.000 3nm-based chips. But before moving to that level of technological advancement, the Taiwanese manufacturer must introduce its 4nm processors. In any case, if the Apple has already demonstrated a huge interest in 3nm processors, imagine when it's the turn of the 2nm processors, which have already been mentioned by TSMC.

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