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The A17 chip, which is expected to be used in the iPhone 15, may prioritize battery life over processing power.
When discussing the 3nm process that will be used for the iPhone 15, Apple chipmaker TSMC emphasized power efficiency over performance...
Background
TSMC has been at the forefront of the chipmaking industry in terms of using ever smaller processes. The iPhone 15 and Macs powered by a new M2 Pro chip are expected to use the company's new 3nm process, which began mass production just a few days ago.
The transition to 3nm is a significant step forward. Although Apple refers to the A16 chip powering the iPhone 14 Pro models as a 4nm chip, TSMC describes the N4 process used for the processor as an enhanced version of 5nm - so the transition will be from 5nm to 3nm.
With each new process generation, more power can be packed into the same sized chip. Apple's chip designs aim to provide the best of both worlds by combining performance and efficiency cores.
TSMC 3nm production ready for A17 chip
Of course, the iPhone 15 is still nine months away, but TSMC's Taiwan plants will be ready in plenty of time. A few days ago, the company held a ceremony to mark the start of mass production of 3nm chips. This new process is expected to debut in Macs powered by a new M2 Pro chip, before the iPhone 15's A17 processor. Later M3 chips are expected to use a 3nm process as well.
According to Bloomberg, the company's chairman, Mark Liu, made remarks earlier today.
TSMC claims that its 3nm processes outperform its 5nm processes while consuming 35% less power.
Providing an impressive stat for power efficiency improvements while referring to performance boosts in far less concrete terms could provide a hint as to what to expect from devices powered by 3nm chips.
9to5Mac’s Take
Apple, of course, designs the chips that TSMC manufactures, so it is free to use the increased transistor density to achieve its own objectives. While the chipmaker appears to be emphasizing power efficiency over performance, this is no guarantee that Apple will prioritize power efficiency over performance in the A17 chip.
Nonetheless, given that raw processing power is rarely a constraint for iPhones, many would welcome a greater emphasis on improved battery life.
In terms of the M2 Pro chip for 2023 Macs, Apple is almost certain to aim for maximum power from the chip - even though Apple Silicon is also extremely power efficient.
