The M1 chip proved to be a major improvement for Apple‘s Mac hardware, but the company looks set to really step up the game next year by equipping the 2022 iPad Pro with 3nm silicon. Apple is currently at the 5nm node stage for its Bionic A14 as well as the M1 chip, and is expected to continue with an improved version of the 5nm process for the A15 processor that will appear inside the iPhone 13 series.
Previously, it has been suggested that the company might upgrade to an SoC based on the 4nm process in 2022, at least for the next A-series chip that will power the 2022 iPhone portfolio. Market analysis reports suggest that the ongoing global semiconductor crisis might to a delay in the arrival of more advanced chips within the next few quarters, but TSMC might defy the odds and is reportedly on track for the production of 3nm chips next year with Apple said to be among the earliest beneficiaries.
Now, as per a report from Nikkei Asia, Apple is among the first TSMC clients to adopt chips based on the 3nm fabrication process next year, alongside Intel. TSMC is slated to begin mass production of these next-gen in the second half of 2022, and they might first appear inside an iPad Pro model. To recall, the A14 Bionic was the first commercial 5nm chip, so it won’t be surprising to see Apple take the lead with the 3nm chip generation as well.
What A 3nm Chip Inside An iPad Pro Actually Means
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Right now, the most advanced chips found inside consumer devices such as phones and laptops — including those from Apple — are based on the 5nm process. As a general rule of thumb, the smaller the ‘nm’ number, the more power-packed a processor gets. The ‘nm’ figure is representative of the size of transistors that make a processor. As their size gets smaller, more transistors can be packed on a die. This improved transistor density results in a performance boost as well as energy efficiency. So, the smaller a chip’s fabrication process gets, the more powerful it becomes while also cutting down on power consumption.
Coming to TSMC’s 3nm process, it is said to deliver chips that offer a performance bump of anywhere between 10 and 15-percent. Additionally, the power efficiency is touted to go up by 25 to 30-percent compared to its 5nm process. Of course, shrinking the transistor and accordingly modifying the packaging technology is no small feat, as each generation of upgrade gets more complex and expensive as well, at least in the initial stages. However, the iPad Pro is a high-end device and its asking price can easily absorb the premium that comes with using a 3nm chip. While Qualcomm’s plans remain unknown, Samsung might make things interesting with its upcoming Exynos chips that will come armed with AMD graphics technology.
Apple has already delivered a massive upgrade to the computing prowess of its tablets with the M1-powered iPad Pro, which only means that the 2022 iPad Pro refresh will take things to the next level. Android tablets powered by Qualcomm chips can barely catch up with the iPad Pro, and the 2022 iteration looks to further widen that performance gap. At this point, it is unclear what the next custom-designed 3nm Apple chip will be called, but given the fact that it will come fitted inside an iPad Pro, it is likely going to be an M-series chip. Down the road, the same chip will also make its way to the next generation of MacBook models that are rumored to adopt upgrades such as a mini-LED panels, slimmer form factor, and better port selection to name a few.