Apple has officially released the new iPhone 14 series, this time only the Pro version with the new A16 chip, the standard version is still A15. but from the current exposure of the runtime information, continuing to use the 4nm process A16 also began to squeeze the toothpaste, and the overall performance is very limited compared to the A15 improvement. It seems that Apple can not bring stronger optimization in the 4nm process, and the next step to continue to improve performance, must be on a more advanced process.
According to the latest reports, Apple plans to be the first company to use TSMC’s N3E process next year and equip the chip to the new generation of iPhone and Mac. iPhone 15 Pro series is bound to carry this chip, which will have a significant performance boost.
It is reported that N3E is the latest generation of TSMC’s 3nm process, or 3nm Enhanced enhanced version, which improves performance, reduces power consumption, and expands the range of applications on the basis of N3.
Compared to N5 the same performance and density of power consumption were 34% lower, the same power and density of performance increased by 18%, or can be transistor density increased by 60%.
Previously there was a leaked internal PPT showing that TSMC’s N3E process is progressing very well with promising yields.
The N3E process produces 256Mb SRAM chips with yields up to 80%, mobile and HPC chips with yields of 80%, and ring oscillators with yields even up to 92%.
