Apple chip supplier TSMC plans to produce 3nm chips at Arizona plant

Apple's chip supplier TSMC plans to mass produce its next-generation 3-nanometre chips at its US$12 billion Arizona plant. The company's founder Morris Chang spoke to reporters in Taipei saying its 3-nanometre plant will be located at the same Arizona site as its 5-nanometre plant.

"Three-nanometre, TSMC right now has a plan, but it has not been completely finalised," said Chang, who has retired from TSMC but remains influential in the company and the broader chip industry. "It has almost been finalised - in the same Arizona site, phase two. Five-nanometre is phase one, 3-nanometre is phase two."

Apple is reportedly moving its custom silicon to the 3nm process beginning with the M2 Pro or M3 processor. Apple's M3 chip and A17 chip for the next iPhone Pro models are expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's enhanced 3nm process, while the M2 Pro is expected to come to next year's 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and high-end Mac mini. Moving to a more advanced process typically results in better performance and power efficiency.

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