TSMC Reportedly Starts Apple A13 7nm Chip Production For 2019 iPhones
TSMC has been a long-time partner for Apple in producing its A-Series SoCs that go in everything from the iPhone to the iPad to the HomePod smart speaker. A new report claims that Apple's next-generation SoC, the A13, is currently under production, with TSMC once again leading the charge.
Early test chips reportedly entered production in April according to Bloomberg, while full-scale mass production is expected to kick off in June. Production will ramp quickly from there to ensure the Apple has enough supply to fuel a likely late September launch for the 2019 lineup of iPhones and new iPad Pro models.
At this point, it's likely that TSMC will still be using a 7-nanometer process node for the A13, which was first brought online for last year's A12. It's likely that the 2020 iPhones could be using a 6-nanometer process node, with further iterations moving down to 5 nanometers.
Next year's alleged A14 will likely be joined by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G connectivity. Now that Apple and Qualcomm have settled their long-running feud, it clears the way for the former to embrace 5G technology more than a year after Android rivals first entered the fray (albeit with skimpy, patchwork wireless networks that haven’t yet reached nationwide status).
The follow-ups to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max that will launch later this year will reportedly be about a half millimeter thicker and will feature triple cameras on the back. The iPhone XR replacement will allegedly ditch its single rear camera for a dual-camera arrangement.
Other changes reportedly on the docket include larger batteries across the board, improved antenna materials to improve reception, and support for reverse wireless charging.
