Apple's Arizona Chip Production Nears Mass Production Stage

According to recent reports, TSMC has initiated test production of iPhone chips in Arizona, and Apple is now finalizing the necessary verifications for these domestically produced components. However, challenges have caused production timelines to shift. The manufacturing of advanced 2nm chips has been postponed until 2028, leaving the industry reliant on 3nm technology for the time being. These 3nm chips are already powering products like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 as well as the A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Looking ahead, there’s potential for the Arizona facility to support future device launches. Nevertheless, the establishment of these plants has not been without controversy; TSMC faced criticism for its hiring practices, as a significant number of workers were recruited from Taiwan rather than the local workforce, prompting allegations of anti-American discrimination. A recent update from Nikkei suggests that the test production phase has successfully concluded, setting the stage for mass production to commence shortly.