Tag: TSMC

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Mobile Syrup

Next year’s Pro iPhones will get A17, non-Pro models will get older chips

The new iPhones aren’t even generally available to the public yet, and already details about the iPhone 15 have started to emerge. According to a new report, the iPhone 15 Pro devices will feature an A17 chip made by TSMC, while the non-Pro models will once again get an older chip.

According to Nikkei Asia (via 9to5Mac), the A17 chip will use TSMC’s second-gen 3nm process (dubbed N3E), which is expected to be available in the second half of next year. Currently, the A17 processor is under development. The report also suggests that some M-series chips will take advantage of the smaller 3nm process too.

Nikkei cites people “familiar with the matter” as the source of the information. Specifically, it notes that the A17 will be used in the “premium entry in the iPhone lineup slated for release in 2023,” which will likely be called the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.

The report should hardly come as a surprise, however. Apple’s new iPhone 14 line was the first to differentiate between Pro and non-Pro by only giving the Pro iPhones the latest chip. The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max sport Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature last year’s A15 Bionic chip with an extra GPU core.

Presumably, the non-Pro iPhone 15 models will use the A16 and not the A15 again, but it remains to be seen.

Apple’s efforts to differentiate the Pro and non-Pro iPhone models are likely an attempt to drive sales of the more expensive Pro models. For several years now, the non-Pro iPhone models have arguably been the best option in terms of value — the latest and greatest hardware for less money, with the Pro models really only offering slightly better screens and better cameras. However, by reusing older chips in the lower-priced models, the value argument isn’t as strong. Plus, it’s hard to argue an iPhone 13 owner should get a 14 when there’s practically no difference between the devices.

Source: Nikkei Asia Via: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Shortage of chips costing as little as 50-cents disrupting the semiconductor industry

A chip shortage is causing disruptions in the semiconductor industry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) CEO, says.

As reported by Bloomberg, the chips cost between 50 cents and $10, and the shortage impacts several companies.

Sharing one example, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei told a group of attendees at a tech conference that ASML Holding NV, located in the Netherlands, is having difficulty securing $10 chips used for its extreme ultraviolet lithography systems.

Wei said TSMC is building more plants to keep up with demand. He said shortages in the automaker sector are the result of companies adding features to cars and increasing the amount of silicon used. In the mobile world, smartphones now require up to triple the number of power management chips compared to five years ago.

“The age of an efficient, globalized supply system has passed,” Wei said. “Costs are swiftly rising, including inflation.”

Source: Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

TSMC to manufacture Apple’s A16 Bionic chip for iPhone 14

Apple is once again working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to develop the upcoming A16 Bionic chip for iPhone 14.

Ahead of its expected launch this fall, TSMC is tasked with manufacturing the new chipset powering the iPhone 14. TF International Securities Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo spotted the manufacturer’s published roadmap, indicating the news. According to Kuo, TSMC is manufacturing the chip on the same fab process as the current A15.

In addition, Kuo believes that TSMC will only be making minor improvements to Apple’s A16 Bionic chip. Previously, rumours indicated that only the Pro models of the iPhone 14 feature the A16. The base model of the upcoming iPhone lineup may only support the existing A15 Bionic chip.

In addition, Kuo believes that the next-gen MacBook Air will unfortunately not feature the rumoured M2 chip. Instead, the device will maintain support for the M1, given that the M2 may not be available until 2023.

There’s no official word on when Apple intends to reveal nor launch the iPhone 14. Historically, Apple opts to hold a September event, where it showcases the new flagship device in full.

However, recent reports claim some iPhone 14 models could face a delay due to supply chain issues. Whatever the outcome, it won’t be long until we get a full understanding of Apple’s plans for its new line of devices.

Source: GSMArena

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Mobile Syrup

Intel purchases first next-gen chip-making tool set to arrive in 2024

Intel announced that it ordered the first of a new generation of chip-making machines from ASML, a Dutch manufacturer of photolithography systems.

The purchase is Intel’s latest move in a larger effort to get back on top of the chip game. Each of the new ASML machines, dubbed ‘Twinscan EXE:5200,’ cost on average $340 million USD (about $425 million CAD) and should arrive in 2024. It’s considered critical to advancing processor progress. One of the main ways chipmakers advance processors is through miniaturization. By shrinking chip circuitry, manufacturers can fit more into processors, enabling them to do more work.

Photolithography, which literally means “writing on stone with light” according to CNET, is core to the process of miniaturizing chip circuitry. Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) have both surpassed Intel in this regard thanks to the use of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light. The shorter wavelength of EUV allows manufacturers to inscribe finer patterns on silicon wafers.

CNET reports that Intel was late to the EUV game, but the company is now working to correct that. The company expects to start selling its first EUV chips in 2023 with processors based on the ‘Intel 4’ node — the company’s somewhat confusing new name for its 7nm process.

The new Twinscan EXE:5200 machines are scheduled to be delivered in 2024 for Intel operations beginning in 2025. The machine uses an advanced EUV tool with a high numeric aperture (NA) to inscribe even finer patterns on silicon wafers.

In simpler terms, that means we’re still several years out from seeing Intel’s more advanced and hopefully more competitive NA EUV process (likely as part of the Intel 18A process slated for 2025). Intel is only just ramping up EUV with Intel 4, which was originally supposed to launch in 2021 but was infamously delayed (and renamed).

With Samsung and TSMC already using EUV for 5nm and even 4nm (with Samsung’s new Exynos 2200), there’s still a clear gap between the companies. Even though Intel’s first in line for NA EUV technology, it’s still behind on current EUV. And it’s not like either Samsung or TSMC will sit idle and let Intel catch up. The next few years will certainly be interesting in the chip market and I expect competition will heat up as Intel chases the top spot.

Source: CNET

Image credit: Intel

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Mobile Syrup

Apple reportedly to have in-house 5G modem made by TSMC in 2023

Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are reportedly forging a closer partnership that will see the latter make 5G modems for the California-based tech giant.

It’s been long-rumoured that Apple would develop its own modems for iPhones to reduce reliance on Qualcomm. Apple and Qualcomm previously faced off in a legal battle over how the latter priced its modem chips and licensing fees, which Apple settled in 2019. Since then, Apple has gone back to using Qualcomm’s modems in iPhones, particularly its 5G models. Before that, Apple used Intel-made modems in iPhones — the company acquired Intel’s modem division in 2019 following the Qualcomm settlement.

According to a new report from Nikkei Asia, Apple plans to have TSMC produce 5G modems for the 2023 iPhone. Four people familiar with the matter told the publication that Apple would leverage TSMC’s 4nm chip production technology for the chip. Additionally, Apple will develop its own radio frequency and millimetre wave (mmWave) components to complement the modem chip. Finally, the iPhone-maker reportedly will develop its own power management chip specifically for the modem.

In current iPhones, Qualcomm provides all those components.

Aside from saving money on licensing fees to Qualcomm, Apple’s in-house 5G modem could bring several other benefits. For one, it would allow for deeper hardware integration between the modem and Apple’s A-series chip, which could yield performance boosts and more power efficiency. It could potentially be a space-saving measure too, compared to having two separate components to handle processing and modem functionality.

However, there are several potential difficulties that come with making an in-house modem. For one, Apple’s modem has to support not just 5G but also 4G, 3G and 2G technologies. Moreover, the modem has to do this without infringing on Qualcomm’s patents.

With all the in mind, it’ll be interesting to see how Apple’s modem ambitions play out. Given how Apple has handled major hardware transitions before — a recent example being the Intel x86 to ARM-based Apple Silicon switch — I think Apple might be able to pull off the modem move. However, that depends if the company can make a competitive 5G modem.

Source: Nikkei Asia Via: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Electronics manufacturers halt production amid China’s mandated power shutdowns

The ongoing chip shortages plaguing smartphones, computers, game consoles and cars will likely get worse as China plans to shut off power to reduce emissions.

According to Tom’s Hardware, the country plans to temporarily shut off power in several major manufacturing hubs, and do so on a scheduled basis going forward. The mandated power shutdowns are reportedly an effort to reduce emissions as China shifts away from coal-powered electricity. The power shutdowns will likely impact electronics companies like Apple, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm and more.

As of 2019, as much as 65 percent of the electricity in China came from coal. Although China has promised the UN that it would not build any more new coal-fueled power plants and would increase reliance on other energy sources, the transition will take time. With coal prices surging, China has ordered the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong to cut total energy consumption. That’s why local governments plan to cut electricity supply to industrial customers and malls for several days each month.

The cuts will impact some companies more than others. For example, Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm have production facilities in China that have received orders to stop production for several days in late September. Eson Precision Engineering, a mechanical parts supplier for Apple and Tesla, received orders to halt production from September 26th to 30th.

However, Reuters notes that the restrictions won’t apply to manufacturers with continuous production cycles. That includes TSMC and UMC — TSMC makes chips for Apple, AMD, Nvidia and several other companies.

Apple’s leading manufacturing partner, Foxconn, also shut down several facilities on Monday, according to Nikkei. Pegatron, another iPhone assembler, also had to shut down but has continued operations using diesel generators. Other manufacturing facilities are considering night shifts to make up for the lost time from power cuts.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen what impact, if any, the mandated power outages have on emissions. As Tom’s Hardware points out, most manufacturers will find ways around the restrictions, such as implementing night shifts, using generators or boosting production at other facilities not impacted by the limits. In other words, companies will shift power consumption to different times if they can, which could mean the mandated outages won’t have a significant impact on emissions.

Source: Tom’s Hardware, Reuters, Nikkei