Apple's A16 chips are now being manufactured in the U.S.

Apple has recently launched the iPhone 16 series, with some models featuring A18 and A18 Pro chips. While the iPhone 16 lineup is all over the news, it seems Apple is taking a giant step forward to achieve the country’s goal of becoming self-sufficient in chip production. According to an independent reporter, Tim Culpan, Apple’s A16 chips are now being manufactured in TSMC’s Fab 21 facility in Arizona, United States.

For the very first time, TSMC’s US-based facility is manufacturing Apple’s A16 chip

To catch you up, Apple first introduced the A16 Bionic chip in the Pro models of the iPhone 14 series. Last year, the company launched the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus with the same chipset. Interestingly, the Apple chip manufactured in the US uses the same 4nm process as TSMC uses for units produced in Taiwan.

To clear the confusion, many refer 4nm process interchangeably with N4P or 5nm. However, it’s part of the extensive 5nm process family. Culpan also mentioned that TSMC often refers to it as an enhanced version of 5nm. Therefore, you can say whatever you’d like.

It’s worth noting that Apple’s A16 chips are being manufactured in small, but significant numbers. Culpan further adds that his sources mentioned this is the stage one production. Once it is over, the production might ramp up. If everything falls in place, the Fab 21 is likely to hit the production target by the first half of 2025.

The chip might feature in one of the upcoming iPads as well as the iPhone SE 4

Having that said, there’s no surety about which Apple device will use these US-manufactured A16 chips. Though, it is possible, Apple might use it to power one of the upcoming iPads. However, the reporter believes these A16 chips aren’t likely to power the iPad Mini since Mark Gurman has already ruled out the possibility of Apple launching it this October.

Apple might also use these A16 chips in the next-gen iPhone SE 4 which could launch early next year. At present, TSMC’s facility in Arizona is somewhat behind the Taiwan-based plant in achieving production targets. However, the progress is encouraging and moving quite rapidly. Therefore, Culpan expects the US-based plant to reach yield parity with Taiwan in just a few months.