TSMC 20nm Production Of Apple A8 Processor Begins Next Month [Rumor]

A new report from Digitimes claims that Taiwan semiconductor Manufacturing Company and its IC design service partner Global UniChip have entered in to an arrangement with Apple, they will manufacture the next 20nm, 16nm and 10nm “A” processors for the company. The A8 processor, expected to debut in devices next year, will be based on the 20nm process is likely to be manufactured in small numbers starting July 2013.

We have heard numerous rumors in the past of Apple roping in TSMC for processor manufacturing as it looks to move its processor business away from Samsung. TSMC will reportedly increase production capacity of 20nm A8 processor after December. The 16nm and 10nm A9 and A9X processors are expected to be manufactured towards the end of Q3, 2013. The parties involved have not confirmed or denied this agreement, and sources don’t identify TSMC as the sole supplier of these chips for Apple. The A9 and A9X chips are likely to debut in the next generation iOS devices which will either be released towards the end of next year or in the first quarter of 2015.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Apple
Tags: Apple Inc, TSMC