Mass production of A15 chip for iPhone 13 starts at the end of May

The longtime Apple supplier TSMC will begin mass shipments of Apple’s upcoming A15 chip for the iPhone 13 ahead of schedule in late May, according to an excerpt from a full report released tomorrow DigiTimes.

The new chip will be based on an improved version of the 5nm process, which first launched in the A14 Bionic with the 2020 iPad Air and iPhone 12 series. While the full report is likely to provide more details on the details of the new chip that will power the next generation of iPhones, it can be reasonably assumed that it will improve performance and power efficiency.

Due to the impact on suppliers due to the global health crisis, Apple launched the ‌iPhone 12‌ series in October, outside the normal period for September. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple is on track to release the iPhone 13 in September. Since TSMC is now starting the mass shipment of the new chip ahead of schedule, this certainly seems to be the case.

Improved performance and power efficiency in the A15 is one of the multiple rumors coming to the 2021 iPhones. Information so far suggests that Apple will move the earpiece for the upcoming iPhones to the top edge, resulting in a smaller notch.

Internally, Apple is expected to always display a ProMotion 120Hz and at least some PiPhone 13‌ models. Additional features include a rumored new matte black option, improved fingerprint resistance for the stainless steel edges and possibly a fingerprint sensor on the screen.