Apple may have to wait a bit longer to have its Made in the US chips as TSMC is reportedly postponing mass production on its Arizona plant by 2025 due to a shortage of skilled workers and specialists to move devices into the center.
According to Nikkei Asia, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu said, “We are experiencing certain difficulties, as there is an insufficient amount of competent employees with the specific competence needed for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade center.” With that, TSMC is sending out technicians from Taiwan to “offset delays and the absence of experienced regional workers.”
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That stated, the long-expected N4 process technology has actually been pushed out to 2025. Interestingly, it was formerly reported that TSMC would produce from 20,000 wafers a month to 40,000 due to increased demand.
But the absence of proficient workers has actually delayed plans. At the minute, it’s unclear which Apple products might take advantage of this chips’ plant, as this US production is more of a PR movement than actually an essential hub for the Cupertino company to diversify its supply chain.
Given that TSMC will start producing chips using the 5- and 4-nanometer process technology, which is used for Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro processors, this suggests that by 2025, these chips might be used for an upcoming Apple TV, base-model iPad, or perhaps an iPhone SE.
A in 2015’s report by Nikkei reveals that TSMC also wants to bring the most recent 3nm chip production to the US, although it could be 50% more costly than in Taiwan. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to include a 3nm A17 Bionic chip, and the M3 processor for Macs could likewise be based upon this technology.
That stated, since TSMC is already dealing with problems with finding skilled employees for the present technology process, transferring to 3nm will be a lot more challenging, as it will require a financial investment larger than $12 billion to begin producing this new generation of chips.
BGRwill keep reporting as we learn more about this future TSMC plant in Arizona and how Apple and its clients will benefit from this facility.