TSMC roadmap: Apple could launch first sub-1nm MacBook chips as early as 2029

The semiconductor arms race is accelerating as TSMC appears to have unveiled an ambitious roadmap extending far beyond the upcoming 2nm era. While Apple prepares the A20 and A20 Pro chips for the iPhone 18 series later this year, the industry is already looking toward the sub-1nm SoC.

According to a new report from DigiTimes, TSMC plans to begin trial production of its sub-1nm process by 2029. This follows the scheduled mass production of the 1.4nm (A14) node in 2028, which is expected to deliver a 30% boost in power efficiency and performance. To achieve the sub-1nm milestone, TSMC will leverage its Tainan A10 facility and P1-P4 plants, aiming for an initial monthly output of 5,000 wafers.

Sub-1nm chips could power the thinnest MacBooks yet as early as 2029; Apple is (still) TSMC's favorite client 

As AI demand surges and smartphone manufacturers face potential "chipset downgrades" due to 2nm yield struggles, Apple remains the primary candidate for these bleeding-edge nodes.

Given its history, the Cupertino giant will likely pay a significant premium and use its massive scale leverage to secure the sub-1nm chip exclusivity. This comes as no surprise given Tim Cook's primary specialty (apart from running the company) is supply chain management and operational efficiency.

That said, the path to sub-1nm chips has many technical challenges, and TSMC must first stabilize its 1.4nm and 1.6nm (A16) processes before the dream of sub-1nm silicon becomes a reality for MacBook (and iPhone) users.