TSMC To Tape-Out 20nm Apple Processor This Month

TSMC will tape out Apple’s A7 processor on its 20nm process this month, says DigiTimes, with risk production starting in May-June.

That means first commercial shipments will be in Q1 2014.

DigiTimes says the chips will be made in TSMC’s fab 14 in the TainanSciencePark.

Fab 14 is one of TSMC’s Giga-Fabs capable of running over 100,000 300mm wafers a month.

TSMC has two other GigaFabs – Fab 12 and Fab 15.

The move marks a transition in Apple’s foundry supply from Samsung to TSMC.