TSMC begins trial 2nm production for Apple, say reports
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Leading chip foundry TSMC is beginning production of chips made using its 2nm manufacturing process technology this week, according to reports from Taiwan.
Apple is set to be the first customer and the production flow will also include advanced packaging to make up the M5 processor that is intended for use in both Mac computers and AI servers. The process is to run at TSMC’s Baoshan wafer fab in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Other reports say 2nm chips going into production could be used in Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 17.
Trial production was expected to begin in 4Q24 ahead of mass production in 2025. The decision to begin production early is being seen as part of an effort to secure better yields ahead of its customer’s full needs.
It is also reported that Apple has reserved all of TSMC’s initial production capacity at 2nm.
TSMC is expected to apply nanosheet gate-all-around (GAA) and introduce back-side power supply (BSPR) technology with the 2nm chips.
The next 12 months is likely to see intense competition Intel, Samsung and TSMC all try to bring up their nominally equivalent 2nm manufacturing processes. A key metric will be the speed at which each company can improve yield. For a new process this typically starts at below 50 percent but needs to be brought up to 80 or 90 percent as quickly as possible. With the complexity of the latest manufacturing processes this is increasingly difficult.
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