Apple Unveils Second-Generation TSMC 3nm SoC for iPhone 16 Series

Apple was the first company in the world to come to market with a 3nm mobile SoC in 2023 with the iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro. One year later, it's following that up with a second-generation 3nm chip dubbed A18 and A18 Pro. Though last year 3nm technology was only available on its Pro and Pro Max phones, this year it's bringing it to the regular iPhone 16 as well, and we have AI to thank for it.

At today's livestream for its new products, Apple only said this year's iPhone 16 family features "second generation" 3nm chips. Still, we know from the M4 launch back in May that Apple is now using a refined version of TSMC's most advanced process. Last year's iPhones used TSMC's N3B node, the first produced by the Taiwan fab, and Apple famously purchased all of its ...