Apple's chip manufacturer hints iPhone 14 may get 3nm A16 processor next year

Apple's foundry, TSMC, has reportedly started the low-yield production of 3nm chipsets, which could find their way to next year's iPhone 14 in the form of the A16 chipset.

Apple’s main chipset manufacturer and supplier, TSMC, has reportedly begun the trials of its 3nm chipset, rekindling the speculation that next year’s iPhone 14 will use the new process on the A16 processor. A pilot production of tapeouts will mean the foundry may be on track to mass produce the 3nm chipsets next year. And reportedly, that should happen after the first half of 2022. So, there is still a chance that the iPhone 14 will use the next chip fabrication technology.

DigiTimes has reported, citing industry sources, that the trial production of the 3nm chipsets has now begun. This is good news considering previous reports hinted at some teething problems in kicking off the production. But those were just reports with no confirmation from TSMC. The only official statement that TSMC gave was back in April during its quarterly earnings call where it said the tapeouts of the 3nm chips might arrive in Q4 2021.