Apple's Chip Partner TSMC to Begin Mass Production of 5nm Chips at New Arizona Factory in 2024

Apple chip supplier TSMC has confirmed that it will begin mass production operations at its new factory in Arizona in 2024, Nikkei Asia reports.

tsmc semiconductor chip inspection 678x452
TSMC Chairman Mark Liu announced that the company's $12 billion factory in Phoenix, Arizona, which is currently under construction, will begin mass production in the first quarter of 2024. While the 2024 timeframe had previously been rumored by Bloomberg, TSMC's announcement serves as a confirmation and indicates that the project is on track.

The first batch of engineers hired to staff the new U.S. factory arrived in Taiwan in late April this year for training, and the company is looking to accelerate its schedule for the facility as much as possible.

The facility will mass-produce chips fabricated with a 5nm process. TSMC has been gradually miniaturizing its process over the years, going from a 16nm A10 chip in iPhone 7 models, to a 7nm A13 chip in ‌iPhone‌ 11 models, and most recently a 5nm process for the ‌iPhone‌ 12's A14 chip. Likely clients for the chips made in the Arizona factory include Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Apple. The new Arizona plant will make it theoretically possible for Apple's 5nm custom silicon chips, such as the A14 or M1 chip, to be manufactured within the United States.

TSMC's main factories are located in Taiwan, but it already operates a factory in Camas, Washington, as well as design centers in Austin, Texas and San Jose, California, meaning that the Arizona facility will be its second manufacturing site in the United States.

Alongside the news about the Arizona factory, TSMC also said that it was looking into chip production sites in Japan, likely for chips destined for Sony devices, and set out the intention to build up overseas manufacturing capacity to ensure long-term competitiveness.

Tags: Arizona, TSMC

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Top Rated Comments

davidjytang Avatar
55 months ago

5nm in 2024? So chips for old stuff.
And Intel will debut 10nm right about then.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
55 months ago

Nothing old or outdated about it. There are chips today being produced on many times larger processes that are still top performing. Most of the chips in the devices you have are not using the latest and greatest smallest process.

Somethings don't need to made smaller or have been really hard to make smaller. Go look at AMD's Chiplet design.
What chips produced today are produced on many times larger processes and are “top performing?”

AMD’s chiplet design is not “many times larger process.”

And telling me to “go look” at AMD chip designs is kind of funny (google me).
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
55 months ago
5nm in 2024? So chips for old stuff.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
55 months ago

How will it compete with IBM's 2nm chip?
Well, being that it will actually exist, it will have a slight advantage.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nvmls Avatar
55 months ago

New jobs in US! This is wonderful news. Who’s ready to apply with me?
God no! who's gonna post 24/7 in MR then?!


And telling me to “go look” at AMD chip designs is kind of funny (google me).
Just did:


Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
55 months ago
New jobs in US! This is wonderful news. Who’s ready to apply with me?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)