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ThomasJL

macrumors 68000
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Oct 16, 2008
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Is there any chance that Apple would release a 3nm M2 MacBook Air before the 3nm M3 chip comes out?
 
Nope. The M3 won't be on 3nm either because the iPhone hasn't switched to 3nm yet.

I will explain how it works.
1. Apple creates an iPhone chip
2. Apple modifies it to an iPad / Mac chip at a later date and calls it M3 / M4 / M5.

So if the iPhone chip on 3nm didn't exist yet, it won't happen. The best shot that Mac and iPads will go on 3nm is the M4.
 
Is there any chance that Apple would release a 3nm M2 MacBook Air before the 3nm M3 chip comes out?
No. (Well, it's not impossible, but it's unlikely.)

Nope. The M3 won't be on 3nm either because the iPhone hasn't switched to 3nm yet.

I will explain how it works.
1. Apple creates an iPhone chip
2. Apple modifies it to an iPad / Mac chip at a later date and calls it M3 / M4 / M5.

So if the iPhone chip on 3nm didn't exist yet, it won't happen. The best shot that Mac and iPads will go on 3nm is the M4.
No, this isn't how it works. For example, my iPad Pro 10.5" is A10X on 10 nm. However, A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7 is 16 nm.

Many experts are expecting M2 Pro and M2 Max to be on N3, even though M2 is on N5, A15 is on N5, and A16 is on N4. There is no guarantee M2 Pro and M2 Max will be N3, but there's nothing stopping that from happening either.
 
No. (Well, it's not impossible, but it's unlikely.)


No, this isn't how it works. For example, my iPad Pro 10.5" is A10X on 10 nm. However, A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7 is 16 nm.

Many experts are expecting M2 Pro and M2 Max to be on N3, even though M2 is on N5, A15 is on N5, and A16 is on N4. There is no guarantee M2 Pro and M2 Max will be N3, but there's nothing stopping that from happening either.

There is no way Apple is going to allocate the 3nm to the iPad and Mac first. Apple make their money with the iPhone. So the iPhone will get it 99.9% first. And then the iPad and Mac will follow.

I don't know who these "experts" are, but they will be disappointed for sure.

The M3 is most likely going to be based on the current A16 in the iPhone, and the M4 will likely going to be based on the hopefully 3nm A17 that will be in the upcoming iPhone.
 
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There is no way Apple is going to allocate the 3nm to the iPad and Mac first. Apple make their money with the iPhone. So the iPhone will get it 99.9% first. And then the iPad and Mac will follow.

I don't know who these "experts" are, but they will be disappointed for sure.

The M3 is most likely going to be based on the current A16 in the iPhone, and the M4 will likely going to be based on the hopefully 3nm A17 that will be in the upcoming iPhone.
Like I said, my iPad Pro was on 10 nm before ANY iPhone was. You really don't know what you're talking about here.

Even if you just followed MacRumors headlines, you'd know that.

 
Like I said, my iPad Pro was on 10 nm before ANY iPhone was. You really don't know what you're talking about here.

Even if you just followed MacRumors headlines, you'd know that.


I don’t know what I am talking about?

I don’t think you know what you are talking about, thinking Apple will give 3nm first to the Mac and iPad over the iPhone, especially with the current supply constraints.

Tim Cook is not that stupid to not give the latest tech to his #1 money maker first.
 
I don’t know what I am talking about?

I don’t think you know what you are talking about, thinking Apple will give 3nm first to the Mac and iPad over the iPhone, especially with the current supply constraints.

Tim Cook is not that stupid to not give the latest tech to his #1 money maker first.
Except iPhones come out in September but Macs are released throughout the year. So if TSMC N3 is ready to go, it would be foolish not to use it because you are waiting until next September for the new iPhone. If Apple can take advantage of the new N3 node and it is ready, they'll use it no matter what's in the iPhone right now.
 
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Except iPhones come out in September but Macs are released throughout the year. So if TSMC N3 is ready to go, it would be foolish not to use it because you are waiting until next September for the new iPhone. If Apple can take advantage of the new N3 node and it is ready, they'll use it no matter what's in the iPhone right now.
Yes, and the reason why some pundits (but not all) think that the new M2 Pro and Max may be on N3 is because there are reports that Apple has bought out almost all initial TSMC N3 volume, which starts volume manufacturing Q4 2022 and which will be shipping finished chips in early Q1 2023. However, early Q1 2023 is far too early for the iPhone, since those chips are typically manufactured in Q2 and Q3.
 
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