TSMC on track for volume production of 7nm chips for iPhone, iPad in 2018

Apple chip manufacturer TSMC is reportedly on schedule to receive the first designs for chips using the 7nm FinFET process in the second quarter of 2017, paving the way for new power-sipping A-series processors for future iPad and iPhone models.

According to supply chain reports from the Commercial Times, the first prototype chips in the 7nm FinFET process will be available in the second quarter just after "tape out" is complete, with full volume production in early 2018, in time for that fall's refresh of the iPhone.

"Tape out" is the last step in the design process for the chip, just prior to mass manufacture. Specifically, the photo-mask of the chip is done, and ready to be sent to the fabrication facility. Additional revisions are often made after tape out is complete, and before the chips are manufactured at scale.

Besides just Apple, other customers slated for the technology include Qualcomm, Xilinx, and Nvidia. TSMC is said to already have 15 customers for chips using the process, but is seeking 20.

The timeline for production of 7nm chips is on track, according to previous goal-posts placed by TSMC

Apple's A10 Fusion chip as found in the iPhone 7 family utilizes TSMC's 16nm FinFET process. Apple's A9 in the iPhone 6S and iPhone SE, and A9X processors found in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro use the same size die.

The Fall 2017 line of iPhones are expected to utilize a 10nm process chip.

Two otherwise identical chips under the same load with different die sizes have less power consumed by the chip manufactured with the smaller die. As a result, in most cases the generated heat is less, giving better performance-per-watt metrics.

A more in-depth update on the progress of manufacturing is expected at TSMC's investor conference on Jan. 15.

13 Comments

wood1208 2930 comments · 10 Years

About 7 years ago

TSMC is said to already have 15 customers for chips using the process, but is seeking 20. How about Samsung ?

melgross 33605 comments · 20 Years

Bah! I find this hard to believe. Everyone now attempting to produce 10nm has run into delays from yield problems. Considering the cost of these factories, there is just no way they are going to produce 10nm for less than a year before jumping to 7nm. I don't believe it.

and as we saw with the 16nm process from TSMC vs the 14nm process from Samsung, we can also see that a smaller process can actually be significantly less efficient.

the only true 14nm process out is Intel's. What ever these are, they won't be what they want people to think they are.

slprescott 759 comments · 10 Years

Is there a lower-limit on FinFET size? At 7nm, are we approaching that limit?

cali 3494 comments · 10 Years

I just want Samsung to feel the burn. That's all.

blastdoor 3564 comments · 15 Years

melgross said:

Bah! I find this hard to believe. Everyone now attempting to produce 10nm has run into delays from yield problems. Considering the cost of these factories, there is just no way they are going to produce 10nm for less than a year before jumping to 7nm. I don't believe it.

The GPU guys tend to lag a year behind Apple in adopting a new process. Part of that's about finances, but a big part of it is that Apple's SOCs are smaller than GPU chips, which makes Apple's SOCs easier to manufacture on a new process. In order to get decent yields on big GPU chips, TSMC needs to gain experience with and refine a new process.

So it's not like the 10nm fabs will be sitting idle after Apple moves to 7nm. They will be cranking out GPUs (among other things).

Also, Apple does still sell older SOCs in older products. For example, the A8 is still being used in the AppleTV and the A8 is a 20nm chip.