Apple M2 Pro SoC might be fabricated on TSMC's N5P node instead of the initially rumoured N3 process

Multiple reports from this year (and last) agreed that Apple's upcoming M2 Pro and M2 Max (tentative) processors would be manufactured on TSMC's 3 nm process. Taiwanese media outlets corroborated the information by stating that the aforementioned silicon will enter mass production in September. However, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo seems to think otherwise.

The industry insider has stated on Twitter that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will enter mass production in Q4, 2022. TSMC's N3 node will only begin generating revenue some time in H1, 2023. The information isn't new, given that semiconductor industry analyst Sravan Kundojjala speculated this in April 2022.

Therefore, TSMC will not be able to produce SoCs for Apple by the time the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros enter production. Hence, one can reasonably assume that the Apple M2 Pro, M2 Max and other M2 derivatives such as the M2 Ultra will use the same TSMC N5P process as the original Apple M2.

That leaves the 2023-bound A17 Bionic as the only Apple design to use TSMC's N3 node. The cutting-edge mobile AP is expected to power the Phone 15 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2023. Apple's decision to stick with the N5P node also helps maintain parity across the Apple Silicon lineup. A two-node shift would result in an excessive performance delta between the M2 and the M2 Pro.

Apple is expected to unveil the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros sometime in spring 2023. Rumours about a 12-inch variant have also surfaced, alongside talks of a 15-inch M2/M2 Pro-powered MacBook Air. Although the information comes from trusted sources, it is best to treat it with a grain of salt as Apple hasn't dabbled with these form factors in a while.

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