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TSMC starts mass production of 7nm Apple A12 processor

by Mark Tyson on 23 May 2018, 10:11

Tags: TSMC, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

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Apple's next generation 7nm processors are in mass production. Bloomberg reports that the new SoC, expected to be called the Apple A12, is now being produced at scale in TSMC's foundries. The new iPhones, launching later this year, might well be the first consumer devices to come packing a 7nm chip, that's something Apple PR will definitely crow about. However, it is thought that Samsung won't be far behind.

Apple's current generation A11 Bionic processor and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 are made with a 10nm process. New 7nm chips are expected to deliver the usual die-shrink benefits which can be balanced over performance and efficiency characteristics. Furthermore, Apple usually makes changes to the CPU, GPU and other SoC component architectures.

In the autumn it is expected that Apple will launch a trio of new iPhones sporting the A12; an updated iPhone X and a Plus model, and a lower priced device.

WWDC confirmed

Apple has been sharing invites to its WWDC 2018 keynote. The WWDC takes place between Mon 4th to Fri 8th June in San Jose, Ca. The keynote will be delivered at 10am PT and take place at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California.

9to5Mac reports that the likely focus of announcements are in OS updates, "iOS 12, macOS 10.14, tvOS 12, watchOS 5, and possibly improvements to Siri and HomePod are expected," it suggests.

If you are interested in Apple hardware, last year we saw new MacBook Pros and the iMac Pro, as well as glimpses of the other hardware like the HomePod. So, no phones but perhaps some new Macs will be revealed and demonstrated next month.



HEXUS Forums :: 16 Comments

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Whelp, ill give them credit for this move. 7nm is a big deal, and obviously apples knows it, and will beat everyone else by having first ever. Nice move apple
ETR316
Whelp, ill give them credit for this move. 7nm is a big deal, and obviously apples knows it, and will beat everyone else by having first ever. Nice move apple

How is it apple's move? They just opened their wallet wider than everyone else for the first wafers from the new process, TSMC did all the hard work of actually making the 7nm node work
Xlucine
How is it apple's move?

Because

Xlucine
They just opened their wallet wider than everyone else for the first wafers from the new process

And so jump starting the adoption
peterb
Xlucine
How is it apple's move?

Because

Xlucine
They just opened their wallet wider than everyone else for the first wafers from the new process

And so jump starting the adoption

And Samsung's production begins in June using it's far more modern EUV process.
TSMC isn't jumping to EUV until 5nm
Any chance this will affect (read: delay) CPU/GPUs for PC thanks to fabs catering to the big guys first?