Supply-Chain Report Suggests 2017 IPad Production Delays Due To Low Yield Rates Of TSMC’s 10nm Chips
A supply-chain report from Digitimes claims that low yield rates from the 10nm process, which is expected to be used in the A10X chip for the 2017 iPad, could delay the production of the tablets.
TSMC has reportedly obtained 10nm chip orders from Apple, HiSilicon and MediaTek, with volume production set to kick off in the first quarter of 2017. Nevertheless, yield rates for TSMC’s 10nm process technology are not what the foundry expected, the sources said.
TSMC is scheduled to start making Apple’s A10X chips for the next-generation iPad series slated for launch in March 2017. Unsatisfactory yields for the foundry’s 10nm process could disrupt the schedule, the sources indicated …
Digitimes has a tendency of publishing everything it hears, so this report should be taken with an extreme grain of salt.
Even if the A10X chips are in low yield right now, there’s several months for Apple to resolve the issue. In addition, it’s likely that TSMC will want to resolve the issue rather quickly for a high-profile customer.