Apple Commits to Next-Gen 3nm Chips for 2024 iPhones

Apple has given chip supplier TSMC order commitments for second-gen 3nm chips (N3E) for 2024 iPhone 16 models. N3E is improved vs first-gen 3nm with better yield and performance.

TSMC moving N3E to volume production and plans to replace N3 with it starting 2024. Apple projected to take 100% of TSMC's 3nm capacity in 2023.

All iPhone 16 models expected to use A18 chips based on TSMC's N3E node. Would be a big jump from A16 in iPhone 15/15 Plus.

TSMC also plans to move N3P to volume production in second half of 2024. N3P offers more speed, power reduction, and density vs N3E.

Analyst Jeff Pu predicts A18 and A18 Pro branding for iPhone 16 chipsets, though marketing names could change as launch is still a year away.