TSMC Said to be Already Preparing to Manufacture A11 Processor for iPhone 7s

[Maura]

We’ve not even had the iPhone 7 announced yet, let alone launched, yet already rumours are surfacing about the iPhone 7s. According to a new report from DigiTimes, via AppleInsider, Apple’s processor supplier TSMC is already working on the design for an A11 chip prior to a small production run, possibly to start in the second quarter of 2017 ready for that year’s iPhone.

DigiTimes’ sources say that the chip will be designed along the same lines as the 10-nanometer FinFET process that TSMC is currently working on. In fact, that process is not even certified at this point, and most likely won’t be until the fourth quarter of 2016, with product samples to be delivered to Apple in the quarter after that.

According to DigiTimes’ sources, TSMC can expect to have two thirds of A11 processor orders for the new iPhones set to launch in the second half of 2017. It’s likely that the other third would be made by Samsung. Interestingly, TSMC is expected to be the sole manufacturer of the A10 chips for this year’s iPhone 7.

Source: Rumor: TSMC already finalizing 10nm 'A11' processor design for Apple's 'iPhone 7s'