Even though the A8-based iPhone 6 has yet to ship, TSMC is already preparing to ramp up production on its 16nm lines to meet demand for the A9 processor, according to Chinese-language publication the Economic Daily News. The company is said to have been targeting 16nm volume production for the second quarter of 2015, but moved its schedule up to the first. Although A9 chips probably won’t roll off assembly lines until later next year, TSMC will allegedly be ready to churn out 50,000 16nm wafers a month starting in Q1.
TSMC is already believed to be involved in manufacturing the A8, which should be used in next-generation iPhones and iPads coming this fall. All of the previous A-series chips were, and are, produced by Samsung, but it’s commonly thought that Apple has been trying to distance itself from that company, owing to product competition and legal battles. Apple could conceivably switch back to Samsung if TSMC doesn’t live up to expectations.
