TSMC has started the production of Apple processors at its chip factory in Arizona, USA. It is stated that small-volume production of the Apple A16 Bionic processor has started at the factory.

TSMC has started production of Apple processors at its chip factory in Arizona, USA. Although the first phase of Fab 21, built near Phoenix, Arizona, is scheduled to start mass production in 2025, it is stated that pre-production has already started.

Produced with 4nm production process

According to the report, the Apple A16 Bionic processor is being produced in small but significant numbers using TSMC's N4P (4nm class) process technology. The processor, which has been in production since 2022 and is currently produced at high yield in Taiwan, will now also be produced at TSMC facilities in the US. Earlier this month, it was reported that throughput at TSMC's Fab 21 had caught up with throughput at its Taiwan factories.

Apple introduced the A16 Bionic processor along with the iPhone 14 Pro in September 2022. Today, this processor is used for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as the iPhone 14 Pro has been discontinued.

Because TSMC's A16 Bionic production volume in Arizona is currently too small, it is not known whether Apple uses them in iPhones assembled in China and India. The company also uses smartphone processors in products such as iPad and Apple TV. Therefore, chips may find a place in these products.