It is reported that Apple has made an N3E order commitment to TSMC to prepare iPhone 16 series chips next year.

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizens Alejandro86 and Wu Yanzu in South China for their clue delivery! CTOnews.com, October 14, according to the latest report from DigiTimes, TSMC is currently promoting mass production with the N3E process and plans to replace the N3 process in 2024. The report also points out that this year's 3nm chip sales will account for 4-6%, with a value of up to US $3.4 billion (CTOnews.com Note: currently about 24.854 billion yuan).

Sources say Apple is the biggest customer of TSMC's N3E process and plans to install it on the iPhone 16 model to be launched next year.

Apple is equipped with A17 Pro chips using N3B (3nm) technology on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, while the upcoming N3E will further cut costs, improve yield, enhance chip performance and energy efficiency.

DiGiTimes believes that TSMC has begun mass production of the N3E process and plans to fully transition to the process next year. All industry giants except Samsung will adopt N3E process. Apple has become TSMC's most important customer and has confirmed its order commitment.

Earlier this year, Apple acquired nearly 90 per cent of TSMC's 3nm chip production capacity. The latest news is that apple expects to get 100% of TSMC's capacity in 2023 because Intel has adjusted its CPU design schedule.