Apple is rumored to delay the release of the M3 chip

The M3 and A17 Bionic are Apple’s first 3nm chips, and many anticipate that the new process from TSMC will bring improvements in both performance and energy efficiency. As the first SoC in the M series, leaked benchmark results indicate that the M3 chip will offer a substantial performance boost.

However, recent news about the M3 might disappoint many, as sources claim that Apple does not intend to release the M3 chip this year but will wait until 2024, due to production issues at TSMC. It remains unclear whether the A17 Bionic will be affected, as both chips employ TSMC’s 3nm process.

Previous reports have suggested that TSMC’s 3nm process faces limitations in terms of tooling and production, struggling to increase yield rates and encountering issues with the quality of products. Rumors indicate that the yield rate for the A17 Bionic and M3 chips is around 55%, with TSMC aiming to increase this to 70%. Consequently, Apple has reportedly lowered the performance targets for the A17 Bionic to improve yield rates and reduce costs. Considering the significance of the iPhone product line to Apple, if forced to choose between the M3 and A17 Bionic, the company would likely prioritize the latter, as any delays would inflict greater damage on overall revenue.

Due to the production hurdles facing the M3 chip, Apple’s planned new MacBook models for this year may not materialize, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the redesigned MacBook Air. Furthermore, rumors suggest that Apple will not release any iPad models featuring the M3 chip this year.