apple and tsmc move to mass-produce M5 chips

2025-02-06 tsmc

Cupertino, Thursday, 6 February 2025.
Apple has launched mass production of its new M5 chip, manufactured by TSMC using the advanced N3P process. This collaboration marks a significant enhancement in chip design, with performance increases of about 5% and a reduction in power consumption by 5% to 10%. Set to appear in products by the end of the year, the M5 chip will power the new iPad Pro, Mac lineup, and Apple Vision Pro. The M5 series includes variants like M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra. Highlighting Apple’s commitment to AI, these chips are the first to be fully geared toward the AI market, utilizing TSMC’s SoIC-MH packaging to improve integration and performance. This move may strengthen the market positions of Apple and TSMC in the semiconductor industry.

TSMC’s strategic manufacturing role

TSMC has commenced production of Apple’s M5 chips using their latest N3P process technology, representing their third generation 3-nanometer manufacturing process. The new chips show significant improvements, with performance gains of 5 percent and power consumption reductions between 5 and 10 percent compared to previous generations [1][2][3]. The manufacturing partnership involves advanced packaging companies, with ASE, JCET, and Amkor handling the final assembly stages [3].

Advanced technology integration

The M5 chip incorporates TSMC’s innovative SoIC-MH (System-on-Integrated-Chips) technology, a breakthrough in chip stacking that enables wafer-level integration at sub-10nm processes [1][4]. This marks a significant advancement in chip architecture, with the base M5 model maintaining the integrated CPU-GPU design, while the M5 Pro may introduce a separated GPU-CPU configuration [1][2].

Product rollout and market impact

The initial M5 chips will debut in the iPad Pro, with subsequent releases planned for Mac computers and the second-generation Apple Vision Pro [1][3][7]. The comprehensive M5 lineup, including M5, M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra variants, positions Apple for a strong market presence in late 2025 [1][2]. Industry analysts note this chip series represents Apple’s first fully AI-oriented silicon design [3][7].

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Apple M5 chip TSMC production