TSMC Arizona site’s ‘phase 2’ plans include 3nm chip production

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reveals its plans to produce 3nm chips at its site in the state of Arizona. But the company said the more advanced production would be part of its “phase 2” plans for the U.S.-based foundry.

Reuters reported that TSMC founder Morris Chang announced plans to establish a more advanced plant that will produce 3nm chips at its Arizona site. Chang confirmed said plans during a press conference in Taiwan after he attended the recently held APEC summit in Thailand last week.

However, it might take a while before said production begins. Chang noted that the initial plan for the site is to produce 5nm chips, and the 3nm chip production would be part of a “phase 2” plan.

"It has almost been finalized - in the same Arizona site, phase two,” Morris said. “Five-nanometre is phase one, 3-nanometre is phase two." TSMC’s Arizona foundry is currently under construction and is planned to start production by 2024.

Devices powered by 3nm chips could be available in the market way before TSMC Arizona begins its production. Earlier this year, the world’s leading foundry unveiled a roadmap for its 3nm chipmaking tech, which it calls the N3 node, along with the target to begin volume production in the second half of 2022. In late August, TSMC confirmed it was gearing up to start its N3 production "soon" despite supply chain constraints at the time.

On TSMC’s website, the company says its 3nm chip node can deliver up to a 15% boost in performance and reduce power consumption by 30% compared to its 5nm tech (N5). Note that Apple’s A15 Bionic chip used on the iPhone 13 series and regular iPhone 14 models uses TSMC’s 5nm tech. Meanwhile, TSMC plans to start production of the 3nm follow-up N3E by 2023.

Apple, one of TSMC’s largest customers, is rumored to be planning to use TSMC’s N3 node for the A17 Bionic chip and upcoming M3 SoCs. These chips are expected to be included in the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and Mac computers launching next year.

Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash